Following up on a tip from Mike Donovan, I went to Bladensburg Marina 
twice this past weekend (the afternoons of Friday July 7th and Sunday, 
July 9th).  I was able to find three of the Least Terns and one of the 
Common Mergansers that he previously sited.  I also saw some early 
shorebirds (Friday only). 

On Sunday (July 9th), I saw three Least Terns flying over the Anacostia 
River and the marina from approximately 3:30 to 5:00 PM.  They perched 
briefly on poles and the mudflats, and flew about noisily over the water.  
At several points they came within 20 or so feet of me as I stood on the 
new pedestrian bridge.

Mike has recorded a pair of Common Mergansers at the marina in the first 
two weeks of June this year and in 2005.  On Sunday, I found the male 
Common Merg resting on the gravel bank of the far shore with some mallards 
and Canada Geese.  Also present on Sunday were 7 Great Blue Herons, 3 
Great Egrets, a Belted Kingfisher, and 10 Ring-billed Gulls.  

On Friday afternoon, I saw neither the Least Terns or the Common 
Merganser.  However, I did see some early shorebirds in the newly created 
wetland restoration area near the pedestrian bridge.  Among the 10+ 
Killdeer were 3 Least Sandpipers and 3 Spotted Sandpipers.  A lone 
Solitary Sandpiper also flew in briefly.  The Great Blues, a Great Egret, 
and 3 Green Herons were also present, as were a pair of Eastern Bluebirds 
with fledglings.

The Least Terns have been present in the area (including the marina) the 
last four or five years.  Mike saw five terns on July 4th.  

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS