I led a morning bird walk for ANS today, April 17, which first 
visited visited Riley's Lock on the C&O Canal, and then went on to 
Hughes Hollow - McKee-Beshers WMA.

Highlights were a female Common Merganser and two Horned Grebes on 
the river at Riley's.  It was slow birding on land, however, with 
only 1 Northern Parula and 1 Louisiana Waterthrush (both well seen 
and studied).  A major disappointment was that we heard a 
Prothonotary Warbler at Riley's  but did not see one.  There was a 
Western Palm Warbler in an oak along Riley's Lock Rd. and a few 
lingering Dark-Eyed Juncos. A female Eastern Bluebird was actively 
taking nesting materials into one of three close together nest boxes 
at the downstream end of the turning basin (wide pond in the canal).

Hughes Hollow was more productive, with 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 3 
Broad-winged Hawks overhead just after 10:30 a.m., 3 House Wrens, 
several White-eyed Vireos and nice scope looks at an immature 
Black-crowned Night-heron and an adult Savannah Sparrow.

There were at least two Prairie Warblers and two Brown Thrashers 
singing on River Rd. just east of Hughes Rd. as we left the area.

Spring is sprung!

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD

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