At 10 a.m. this morning, November 20, I found the previously reported 
Brant at Hains Point, District of Columbia in about the same location 
where it has been seen by others.  Actually, it took me a while to 
find it, as it was grazing quietly under a bald cypress tree midway 
between the Awakening Statue and the tip, of the point.  It then flew 
into the Potomac, paddled down to the point and back again, then flew 
into the grass amid a group of Ring-billed Gulls and started grazing 
again.   When I left at 10:20, it had flown again and was sitting in 
the Potomac on the National Airport side of the point.  It flies 
well, has no bands of any sort and eats healthily.  I wonder if it 
will stick around for this year's DC Christmas Bird Count.

I photographed the bird, and anyone wanting to take a look at the 
result should contact me offline.

A Merlin was chasing crows in the same general area.  Several small 
groups of Laughing Gulls were flying north up the Anacostia River.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD

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