Having been involved with birding projects in Montgomery County this
May, I have done very little birding in the District of Columbia.
However, intrigued by nice reports of birds at the National Arboretum
by John Beetham, Tom Jones, and others, I decided to give "The Arb" a
try this morning, May 22. In the past, I must confess that I have
not had a lot of success at this location.
I didn't arrive until 8:30 a.m., unforgivably late for a spring
birding visit, and started at Mount Hamilton, above the azalea
collection. Best birds here were a female MOURNING WARBLER, seen
briefly but well and only my second of this species in DC, several
female Black-throated Blue Warblers, a female Magnolia Warbler, and a
nice GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. (I later saw another one, extremely close,
on the trail in Fern Valley.) I also saw a Swainson's Thrush, heard
several more, and heard VEERY and Wood Thrush.
Probably the same OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER as previously reported from
here was hunting insects from a high snag just up from the parking
lot on the one-way road from the HQ area towards the azalea
collection. Most common warblers, by the sound of them, were
Blackpolls and American Redstarts, with a few Northern Parulas and
Ovenbirds, too. I looked and listened for Kentucky Warbler without success.
A HOODED WARBLER sang repeatedly from a location in between the Fern
Valley parking lot and the Langston Golf Course. I never did see it, though.
The Olive-sided Flycatcher was Species #232 for me in the
District. Thanks to the earlier posters for getting me to see this
one, which I have missed on several occasions up in Rock Creek Park.
Good Birding.
Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD
D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom |