The annual January 1st "Earliest Bird" outing of the Montgomery Bird 
Club got the New Year off to an enjoyable start this morning.  The 
weather in D.C. was well above freezing, and the sun came out 
fitfully.  We visited Georgetown Reservoir, Constitution Gardens, the 
Reflecting Pool, Tidal Basin, Hains Point and Anacostia Park.  Water 
bird numbers were rather low, but we had some species diversity.

We had 25 people along, which made car-pooling a necessity.  Thanks 
to those who drove.

The location of this trip may be moved in future years to a more 
rural area in which it is less potentially dangerous to move around 
in multiple vehicles and/or somewhere where extensive driving is not required.

The list:

CANADA GOOSE
MALLARD
CANVASBACK
RING-NECKED DUCK
LESSER SCAUP
BUFFLEHEAD
HOODED MERGANSER
RUDDY DUCK
PIED-BILLED GREBE
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
GREAT BLUE HERON
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON
TURKEY VULTURE
BLACK VULTURE (seen by me before the trip started at 8 a.m.)
BALD EAGLE (adult, near the Capitol)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
PEREGRINE FALCON  (adult, 14th St. railroad bridge)
AMERICAN COOT
RING-BILLED GULL
HERRING GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (adult, on the soon to be fashionable right 
bank of the Anacostia)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
ROCK PIGEON
MOURNING DOVE
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
DOWNY WOODPECKER
BLUE JAY
AMERICAN CROW
FISH CROW
CAROLINA WREN
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
AMERICAN ROBIN
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
EUROPEAN STARLING
SONG SPARROW
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
DARK-EYED JUNCO
NORTHERN CARDINAL
HOUSE FINCH
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
HOUSE SPARROW

A Very Happy New Year to all Maryland/District of Columbian birders.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda

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