Prior to a business luncheon at the Channel Inn in SW District of 
Columbia today, I birded in a few favored DC spots:

Anacostia Park had 5 gull species in the river at close to high tide 
-- Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, and Lesser 
Black-backed.  The Lesser Black-back was a first-winter bird, the 
first of this age I've seen in D.C.  Yet another suggestion that this 
species, which has become more common every winter for quite a few 
years, is breeding not too far to the north of us.

There were 2 MERLINs at Hains Point just before noon today.  They 
were at times flying in formation, then enjoying themselves buzzing 
Crows in the trees close to the point. Let's hope they stay for the winter.

A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched at midday on the railroad bridge by 
the 14th St. road bridge over the Potomac.

A chickadee I saw briefly at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens this morning 
showed quite a few characteristics of Black-capped -- very buffy 
flanks, very white coverts and a fuzzy boundary between the black bib 
and white upper chest.  But the bird did not vocalize and I'm only 
about 80% sure of the i.d.

Mike Bowen

Montgomery Bird Club, MOS
Bethesda, MD

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: