Took my final Towpath(from Sycamore Landing to Tenfoot Island) count 
today.  I was interested in seeing if the cold weather had affected any 
landbirds and if  more ducks were present because of  ice on the Potomac 
River.  I was surprised to find the river was mostly frozen with large open 
areas near Horsepen Branch and TenFoot Island, but alas almost no ducks- 
just 4 blacks and 2 Mallards.  Did find 2 Pied-billed Grebes, a first for 
the season.
     Landbirds were better although I had to work to find them.  Birds are 
attracted to the river in weather like this because of the open water and 
warming? effects of the sun shining on the south facing bank.
      Highlight for me were 2 Rusty Blackbirds a species I have been looking 
for here all winter.  Other highlights were 2 Bald Eagles, 4 Eastern Phoebes 
( saw another one along Sycamore Landing Rd), 19 Brown Creepers, 7 Winter 
Wrens, 20 Golden-crowned Kinglets (highest count for the winter), 5 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (good winter for them), 23 Eastern Bluebirds, 3 Hermit 
Thrushes, and 122 White-throated Sparrows (high count).  All other species 
were recorded in normal numbers for this winter.
       Robins, Cedar Waxwings and Myrtle Warblers have been almost absent 
this winter.
     On the way back I spent some time walking along the river's edge and 
saw something I don't think I have noticed before- brown creepers on the 
ground going through the leaf litter.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA