Took a walk down to Dumbarton Park last night, and heard a pair of Barred Owls. Two dogwalkers mentioned that they had actually seen the owls on several occasions around dusk. Since we have a policy about not giving away specific roosts, I will not say where in the park the owls were seen. 
   
  Also spotted:
   
  Eastern Towee (near the paved trail that goes up to Dumbarton Oaks)
  White Throated Sparrow
  Northern Flicker
  Red-Bellied Woodpecker
  Downy Woodpecker
  American Goldfinch
  White Breasted Nuthatch
  Blue Jay
  Carolina Chickadee
  American Robin
  Northern Cardinal 
  Carolina Wren
   
  No warblers! :(
   
  One other note: after hearing the owls, my wife and I bushwhacked some "less traveled" parts of the park and stumbled across a homeless camp that appeared active. Some of the campsites were filled with trash and broken bottles but a couple were quite tidy, complete with clothes lines and protective tarps over possessions. No one was around when we passed through, but my wife mentioned that she would not want to hike in that area alone at dusk, and nor would I for that matter. Enough said. I did not bring this up to start a debate about squating in National Parks or about homelessness, which is not part of Osprey's mission. I just want fellow Osprey members to be aware of their personal safety when hiking DC's less travelled parklands in search of birds.
   
  John Sherwood
  Washington, DC