I was checking out a place in NW District of Columbia today that 
someone had suggested as an eBird "hot spot" -- Soapstone Valley Park.

The park is a salient of Rock Creek Park that runs west from Rock 
Creek along a stream valley between Albemarle St. to the north and 
Upton St. to the south.  The park has its western limit at 
Connecticut Avenue NW.

I happened to look up at around 1:30 p.m. to see a "vee" of TUNDRA 
SWANS high up and moving southeast.  There were 28 of them.  They 
were not calling, or at least I wasn't conscious of them doing so, 
but perhaps they had been and that was why I looked up.

I had never visited Soapstone Valley Park before, despite the fact 
that it is two blocks from where my son and daughter in law live.  It 
is a very pleasant, if narrow strip of mature deciduous woodland in 
an area of high-density apartment blocks and large single 
houses.  According to the NPS Rock Creek Park map, a trail leads all 
the way from just off Connecticut Avenue all the way east through the 
park to Broad Branch Rd.  The only other birds I saw there at ground 
level were the usual residents and winter visitors -- chickadees, 
titmice, Carolina Wren, White-throated Sparrow, etc.  It probably 
isn't big enough or different enough to qualify it as a "hot spot," 
but I just don't have the birding experience there.

If anyone out there is familiar with Soapstone Valley or birds there 
from time to time, would they please contact me off-line.

Thanks.

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom