Heeding John Hubbell's urging to add more species to the DC list for 
2005, I spent a few pre-rain hours on Christmas morning looking at 
birds in the District of Columbia.

Alas, I came up with nothing new for the cumulative list, bit a few 
good birds nevertheless:

a PEREGRINE FALCON and a 3rd or 4th winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 
at Georgetown Reservoir

6 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and a very drab ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 
(presumably race celata)  in the holly trees above the entrance 
channel to the Tidal Basin.

[This was my fourth Orange-crowned Warbler for DC and the second time 
I have had one in this exact same spot -- the previous occasion was 
on December 3, 2000.  Ironically, I have not yet seen one in 
Maryland, where I have lived now for almost 40 years, most of them as 
a reasonably active birder.]

a male BUFFLEHEAD and about 50 LESSER SCAUP off Fort McNair and an 
adult BALD EAGLE in its usual spot in a big tree at the south end of 
the Hains Point golf course.

I checked the various goose flocks but could not come up with 
White-fronted or Cackling.  There were very few ducks on Georgetown 
Reservoir despite much open water.  The presence of the Peregrine may 
have something to do with it.

Than rain!

A Very Happy Christmas to all.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda

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