Spent most of the morning checking the main impoundments and the area 
to the west.  Then walked the towpath from Sycamore Landing to Horsepen 
Branch.  Although water was receding along the banks, the Potomac River was 
still high so there were no birds on the water.
      Decent morning with a good variety.  Total of 41 species.  Noteworthy 
finds were 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers, one at the south end to the N-S dike 
and 2 in their normal wintering area to the west (where I found 3 adults 
this summer); a lingering Eastern Phoebe  and a catbird, 2 flyover Am. 
Pipits and one flyover Purple Finch.
      Good numbers of Winter Wrens (10), Hermit Thrushes(3), Cedar Waxwings 
(42), White-throated Sparrows (135), and Swamp Sparrows (18).  On the other 
hand I found only 3 Myrtle Warblers.
     When I arrived there 3 duck hunters who had chased most of the 
waterfowl away.  They reported many Canada Geese ( I heard one), 4 Wood 
Ducks and coots which I didn't see.  I did find 7 Hooded Mergansers which 
flew off before they had a chance to shoot.
     Best find of the day was 2 otters hunting for fish--they caught at 
least one.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA