Just a few highlights from the DC - Rock Creek Christmas Count this morning. - I know a few of you might want to get your DC bird numbers up, so I hope this helps.

Seen on the Golf Course in the park - 
Merlin
Turkey - on the ground and then perched in a tree

Northern Harrier flying West from the creek along Military Road
Great Horned Owl near south of the nature center!!!  This is the first live sighting in years.  I didn't see any of these birds myself, this was gleaned from the tally rally.

I'll be in the park tonight checking on the Horned Owl and trying to get a Barred Owl to respond.

Golden Crown Kinglets and a Single Ruby Crowned Kinglet was seen.  They are not in big numbers.
House Wren still lingering.  I also heard a Eastern Phoebe has been hanging around the Maintenance Yard this week, but no one saw it today.

I don't recally anything else that was unusual.  No BC Chickadees, nothing other than White Breasted Nuthatches and very low number of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers.

Good Birding

Denise Ryan
Cheverly, MD