Dear All

A very patchy morning in Rock Creek this morning.  I arrived early in the hope of catching the Barred Owl heard recently around the stables, but to no avail.  Too breezy probably.

There were no birds of note for the first 30 mins and the walk down to the Maintenence Yard was uninspiring - a couple of Nighthawks going over.  But The Vine at the back of the Yard was surprisingly busy with four Redstarts, two Peewees and B t Blue.  A couple of other birders arrived and promptly found a nice Wilson's Warbler and I thought we were on for a good morning - but then it just died.

Jim arrrived from the Ridge with similar news - one party with a Worm-eating Warbler and a Black & White but otherwise very quiet.

I walked back to the Stables and was about to give up when a bird party arrived which then kept us entertained for about 20 mins holding the following Chestnut-sided (2), Black & White (2), Blackburnian (1), Bt Blue (1 male), Baltimore Oriole (6), Red-eyed Vireo (4) and a Tanager sp (1 - I only saw it's head but was v thick-billed and a possible Summer).

So in the final analysis what with 7 spp of warbler all told it was not a bad morning really - just the long periods of birdlessness somehow left one feeling unfulfilled...

Looking forward to more birds anon

Gary

GAllport at Audubon.org