After light overnight rain, I thought it might be worth checking out 
the state of migration at Little Falls Parkway and the adjacent 
portion of Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda early this morning.

I was not disappointed, and quickly had 47 species, including 12 
species of warbler.

Some of the neotropical birds seen and/or heard:

WHITE-EYED VIREO  1
RED-EYED VIREO  4
HOUSE WREN  6
SWAINSON'S THRUSH  1
WOOD THRUSH  4
NASHVILLE WARBLER   4
NORTHERN PARULA  3
YELLOW WARBLER   2 (both females)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER   2
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER  6
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER  1
BLACKPOLL WARBLER   1  (pretty early for this one)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER   1
AMERICAN REDSTART  2
OVENBIRD  3
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH  1  (singing along the short stretch of creek 
that is not channelized)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT  4
LEAST FLYCATCHER  1  (calling repeatedly)
ACADIAN FLYCATCHER  2
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER  1
SCARLET TANAGER  1
INDIGO BUNTING  3
BALTIMORE ORIOLE  3

Gray Catbirds were around in abundance and small flocks of migrating 
Blue Jays were overhead most of the early morning.

In 20+ years of birding this area, primarily during spring 
migration,  I have recorded 20 species of warblers here.  Anyone who 
works in downtown Bethesda could do worse than spending a few minutes 
along Little Falls Parkway, either before work or even at 
midday.  Most of the trails are paved.  The area is described in 
detail in "A Birder's Guide to Montgomery County, Maryland," which 
the Montgomery Bird Club published about five years ago.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD


D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom