Hi all--

With a break in the weather, Barry and I went out to try and find the various "good" geese being seen in DC. We started at Kenilworth Park, then to Anacostia Park, East and West Potomac Parks, then over to Gravelly Point (which is in DC as north of the Washington Channel).

We saw quite a few good birds and also, managed not to get "goosed" by our target waterfowl! Most interesting are noted below:

Kenilworth Park: Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult), on the grass with Ring-bills; American Pipits (6-8, fly-overs); Killdeer (1). Many Fish Crows and Canada Geese.

Anacostia Park: About 200 Canada Geese, nothing unusual.

East Potomac Park (Hain's Point): Merlin (2, perched), Peregrine (adult, at point, nice views), Cooper's Hawk (1, subadult) which appeared to be following a Red Fox around -- staying about 30 feet behind and 15 feet up as the fox trotted over the golf course. Perhaps hoping the fox would scare up some prey. About 25 Lesser Scaup off Ft. McNair, also about 100 Canada Geese.

West Potomac Park, field west of FDR Memorial, finally hit pay-dirt -- 300 Canadas and one GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (orange-billed). Yay! DC bird for us! Also, soaring Red-tailed Hawk.

We had seen a very large flock of about 500 Canadas at Gravelly Point (from Hain's Point) so crossed over and went through the flock. Pay-dirt again, one CACKLING GOOSE, Richardson's type: about 1/2 body size and bulk of the Canadas, distinctly grayer on flanks, with some darker gray markings, upper breast pale. Bill moderate in length (that is, not as tiny as some we've seen, about the same as male of family party at Zion Rd. last fall). Also, two quite large, very very dark geese that may be occidentalis Canadas. We managed photos of the Cackler but not these latter, so folks may want to look for these. The records committee is trying to document some of the separable forms.

Also, another Merlin fly-by, chasing the many Starlings.

All in all, a grand day out!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD