Dear All

Just a few things to add to the posts from Wallace and Gail/Barry for yesterday and today.

Yesterday morning I thought, for once, I would try the Ridge in Rock Creek Park as my starting point, rather than my more usual haunt of the Stables & Maintenance Yard.   Finding myself all alone there at dawn I thought that it might have been the wrong decision, and indeed it was in some ways but the birding was good anyway.  I saw:

Warblers - three groups:  Black & White (6);  Chestnut-sided (8);  Redstart (15+);  Red-eyed Vireo (8); White-eyed Vireo (1);  Magnolia (5);  Yellowthroat (6); Parula (2); Ovenbird (1)

Other:  Swainson's Thrush (1); Veery (1);  Brown Thrasher (1); Scarlet Tanager (2); Great Crested Flycatcher (2); Wood-Pewee (6); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2-3); Nighthawk (2); Cedar Waxwing (30)

I then headed up to the yard and met Wallace, Gail, Barry et al. and learnt that I'd missed a Philly Vireo, and then heading out, it proved later, I walked right past an Olive-sided Flycatcher without noticing it.  Ah well.

So, I went back for a quick look this morning to see if the Olive-sided Fly was still there.  I did tour-du-snags in the general environs but there was no sign.  In the short time I spent in the yard I serendipitously dipped-in on a Yellow-bellied Fly, and saw a second Empid too, but I thought it looked a bit more like a Least on poor views.  The only thing I saw extra to add to Wallace's post today was a couple of Swainson's Thrushes in the porcelain berries around the back of the yard.

Onward

Gary