I led a morning bird walk for The Nature Conservancy, MD/DC Chapter, 
this morning, April 29, at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington DC.

It wasn't really a fabulous birding day, being rather cool and windy 
for the most part, but we had our share of good birds, starting right 
off with a singing WARBLING VIREO in the parking lot.

Other high points were watching two BALD EAGLES, one adult and one 
sub-adult (see definitions posted here on MDOsprey by Walter Ellison 
recently), harassing some Canada Geese and trying, unsuccessfully, to 
snatch one of their goslings off the water.  They later tried out 
their aggressive behavior on an OSPREY.

We had great views of a large flock of CEDAR WAXWINGs, 10 COMMON 
MERGANSERs flying north over our heads, a single SOLITARY SANDPIPER 
flying and calling loudly, and several BROWN THRASHERs near the 
parking lot.  2 RED-TAILED HAWKs and at least one RED-SHOULDERED 
entertained us in the sky.

Warblers were fairly hard to come by, except for YELLOW-RUMPED, but 
when a small portion of the group went out on the River Trail, we did 
pick up PALM WARBLER (Western race), OVENBIRD, BLACK-AND-WHITE 
WARBLER, and 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS (one of them over the Anacostia 
in the National Arboretum).  Also two curiously silent EASTERN 
KINGBIRDs.  We did have good views of singing NORTHERN PARULA and 
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT.  A male BALTIMORE ORIOLE appeared briefly but 
did not stop long enough to be admired.

The River Trail at KAG has a major infestation of tent caterpillars, 
which should provide a great food source when the Cuckoos come in. 
None seen today, however.

Good Birding

Mike Bowen
ANS and Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD

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