A day that starts off with a Pileated Woodpecker hanging from the suet on your deck has promise.

And this day's birding ended after watching an eaglet being fed in the nest at Great Falls National Park.  One adult was at the nest by itself for quite a while, feeding its chick every now and then from some kind of food chached nearby.  Later it was joined later by another adult who appeared to bring more food which the eaglet eagerly gobbled down.  Great views of the whole process through my scope.  Only saw one chick during about 2 hours of observing.

Other interesting birds seen in between the "Good God Bird" and the National Symbol:

Hughes Hollow 9:30am to 11:50:
Pied-billed Grebe (5)
Gadwall
Blue-winged Teal (6)
Wood Duck (3 pairs, m/f)
American Coot (saw 1; heard several others)
Wilson's Snipe (2)
Belted Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
Swamp Sparrow

Riley's Lock 12:20 to 12:45:
Common Loon (3...1 in Alternate Plumage)
Pied-billed Grebe (2)
Black vulture (4)
No. Rough-winged Swallow (~12)
Purple Martin (2)
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Violettes Lock 12:50 to 1:40:
Pied-billed Grebe (5)
Horned Grebe
Scaup species (Greater? -1)
Ring-billed Gull (~12)
Red-shouldered Hawk (great looks, just across canal from towpath)
Tree Swallow (~20)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (~15)
Purple Martin (5)
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (FOY)
Palm Warbler (yellow...very bright plumage)

Great Falls NP 2:00 to 4pm:
Osprey
Black Vulture (2)
Great Blue Heron (~20, in the rookery, just behind, around the Bald Eagle's nest)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Nice, very nice.

Good birding,




--
Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
Montgomery County