Hi Denise,
 
Thanks for your in-depth response to my email.  I hope there was someone like you out there that could give me some birding background on the area.  I couldn't believe such an close-in site could stay unbirded.  Is your breeding bird atlas data available - print, online?
 
Since I live so close (700 block of Hobart Ave - between Sherman and Georgia Ave.DC), I plan to survey it 4-7 days a week.  So far it seems to have some species change about every 2-3 days.   I hope these efforts will be rewarded with a couple rarities or at lest a nice seasonal baseline.
 
Have you had any luck in the grasslands area during the fall and winter?  
 
Jason

Denise Ryan <> wrote:
Hey Jason and all - 
This area is birded by me for the Breeding Bird Atlas and there is some pretty good stuff in there in the summer.
Green Herons, Kildeer, Kingbirds, tons of Barn Swallows, Orioles, just pop to mind. I think if there were some Bluebird houses, they could really do well in the grassy areas too.

I passed that way last night after dark and noticed what looked like lots of ducks, geese and gulls. I know the Christmas Bird count covers that area each year as well as grounds around Catholic University, the Catholic Shrine and there is a nice patch of land next to the newer Pope John Paul II center. I've noted a pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks in there during the summer. Over summer I've seen some first year non-breeders in the res that were interesting. I recall some Grebes and maybe other diving ducks.

Winter there are certainly a diversity of ducks in there, so it is always worth checking out. I've asked the Army Corps of Engineers if I could enter either property for the Breeding Bird Atlas and was denied entry. So, all observations are made from outside the fence.

You may also want to note - just kind of some other interesting spots around town I've discovered are ok for birding too - 
Fort Totten. Thought it would be scary, but never felt threatened even as a lone female in the early weekend hours. Found Pewees, Towhees and more raptors around. 

Ft. Bunker Hill was birded by me, Rob Hilton and Father ? Don't remember his name. Found some nice warblers in there during spring migration - look out for the poison ivy! 

Rock Creek Cemetary is another interesting spot. The grounds folks don't mind birders driving and walking around. Lots of cool crypts and head stones - they've reported raptors, and your usual yard birds are there. Never tried it in migration. Since it is a large property and next to the Old Soldiers Home and has lots of old trees, certainly could yield some goodies. Might also check in winter for Creepers and Kinglets.

Denise Ryan
Cheverly, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Jason Berry
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:36 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] McMillian Reservoir and Grassland


Hello Everyone,



Can anyone tell me if they themselves or others they know have birded the McMillan Reservoir and Grassland? It is located immediately south of Washington Hospital Center at Michigan Ave. NW and !st Street NW. The reservoir itself seems quite deep and is attracting waterfowl, large numbers of gulls and, of course geese. This place seems to be a well-kept secret, but I have to think others have birded it over the years and may even have keep records.



An even better kept secret is the large grassland area bordered by Michigan Ave. NW, 1st Street. NW, and North Capitol. The grass is pretty wild, but quite short, and provides a great number of perches on the old "waterworks ruins". I've seen some pretty neat stuff here recently - mainly hunting raptors (Kestrels, Merlin, Coopers hawk). I am going to bird it pretty intensively this fall/winter to see what grassland birds and raptors (short-eared Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, ...?) might show up. 



Both sites have chain linked fences around them like the Georgetown Reservoir, but the diving ducks seem to like to hangout in the extreme northwest quadrant - very close to the fence. So far I've gotten American coot, Lesser Scaup, Pie-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Duck in the past ten days. There are huge numbers of gulls in the late afternoon, but I have not yet made an effort to pick through them.



I really like this place as it is about five minutes from my house in Columbia Heights, DC and is easier to get to than the Georgetown reservoir. Please consider this as an "invite" to all DC area birders to give it a whirl when the migrant winds are blowing right!



Jason Berry

Columbia Heights,

Washington, DC





P.S. For directions you can use mapquest and put in 2800 1st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Parking can be had either on this stretch of 1st Ave near Michigan Ave.(paking meters are cheap)