Hoping to see at last a Merlin that sometimes shows up at the golf 
course on Hains Point, we drove by at ~ 11 am. There we found at least 
2, probably 3, Merlins. All were  visible near the tops of trees about 
midway between the east and west branches of the perimeter road, more 
readily visible from the east side. One was on a line perpendicular from 
the road to the gazebo, another on a perpendicular from the middle of 
the south-most parking lot. None were in flight on this drizzly day, and 
we think all 3 sightings were of separate individuals - tho' like Clark 
Kent and Superman no 2 were ever seen at the same time.

Also present were 4 ad Bald Eagles, 30 L Scaup in the channel, and a 
Common Loon in the river - the first one I've ever seen there. Up until 
now I had seen Pacific Loons more often.

On the Anacostia R sand-bar above the Sousa Br there were 35 GBB, 30 
Herring, 60 Ring-billed, and 3 Laughing Gulls, but nothing unusual.

Fred & Jane Fallon
Bowie MD