Bob Klarquist, John Williamson and I found 5 SANDHILL
CRANES this afternoon at the Lowes Island Golf Course
as they flew out of an artificial wetland past the W
end of the golf course.  They soon landed in an
adjacent wetland where we watched them feed before we
moved on.  Photos were obtained.  One of the birds
gave it's bugle call in flight.

This area is in the very NE corner of Loudoun Co.
along the Potomac, across from Violette's Lock in
Maryland.

The golf course is private but a public trail runs
through the area.  As far as I can tell, when we
viewed the cranes we were on a section of the Potomac
Heritage Trail which I believe is called the Algonkian
Scenic Trail.

Numbers and species diversity seem down in our sector
after the great counts we've had the past couple of
years.  A singing RUSTY BLACKBIRD was nice.

The weather was much better than forecast - not as
rainy and not as windy.

Good birding to you all,

Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.



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