Hi all --

Barry and I went down to the National Gallery today (on the way in checking out the Ripley Garden which looks in super condition for a lingering hummer but which only yielded a Ruby-crowned) -- afterwards we drove around Hains Point, about mid-afternoon. On the golf course, many golfers and a single MERLIN perched in a dead tree about half-way along. 

The best bird was a RED-THROATED LOON on the Potomac, about even with the first round toilet block as you drive away from the Point. Only about 20 yards out so brilliant views in the scope. It was diving quite a bit and swimming fairly steadily upstream towards the 14th Street Bridge, and we eventually lost sight of it. This is a good species for DC, I have only seen it twice before.

About the only other birds of note was a single Savannah Sparrow in the maintenance area and a Pied-bill Grebe on the Potomac.

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD