Unlike most trips here I found the best birds at the end of my
travels. Started the morning at Sycamore Landing along the C&O canal near
milepost 27 looking for Cerulean Warblers. Checked the main area where they
can usually be seen without any success. I am beginning to think that they
no longer nest here. I'll continue to survey the areas where I have found
them previously, but I am not optimistic.
Continued along the towpath to the Horsepen Hiker-Biker then came back
through the fields, staying mostly on the southern edges, until I returned
to Sycamore Landing Rd.. Before I left I checked the impoundments to make
sure I wasn't missing anything. Found a LEAST BITTERN, 2 GREAT EGRETS, at
least one COMMON MOORHEN, and 2 AMERICAN COOTS - not a bad way to end the
day. Still haven't heard any Warbling Vireos.
Found 59 species with the other highlights being an Osprey, an adult
Bald Eagle, a female turkey feeding in a dry swamp, and a singing
Grasshopper Sparrow NE of Willard & River Rds..
Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA
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