We had nice weather for what seemed to be a rather slow Friday morning at Hughes Hollow/Mckee-Beshers WLMA.  DNR very recently mowed the edges of the levees separating the impoundments, and this eliminated lots of weedy growth that had been attracting sparrows and finches in our previous visits.  The impoundments are full, and it appears that there will be a late bloom of the water lilies in the northwest impoundment.  Water birds were virtually non-existent (one Great Blue Heron, one Wood Duck, and a few fly-over Canada Geese), and migrants were few and far between.  We saw only three warblers, but two were of special note -- an immature Connecticut Warbler midway down the side levee that leads West, and a male Nashville Warbler that was very cooperative for several minutes in the weeds at the edge of the levee where it first leaves the trees near the parking lot (both of these were lifers for Ann, making three life warblers for her at Hughes in the last 30 days!).  We saw 32 species total, including quite a few Chimney Swifts, good numbers of Eastern Phoebes and Indigo Buntings all along the levees, a few Tree Swallows flying over the impoundments, and some House Wrens still hanging out just before where the central levee enters the trees on the South end.

A full list follows from my eBird report.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

Location:     Hughes Hollow - McKee Beshers WLMA
Observation date:     10/3/08
Notes:     Nashville Warbler was very cooperative staying visible at close range for several minutes.
Number of species:     32

Canada Goose     4
Wood Duck     1
Great Blue Heron     1
Turkey Vulture     4
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Chimney Swift     18
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
Downy Woodpecker     3
Northern Flicker     3
Eastern Phoebe     11
Blue Jay     13
American Crow     2
Fish Crow     1
Tree Swallow     4
Carolina Chickadee     4
Tufted Titmouse     2
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Carolina Wren     5
House Wren     2
Eastern Bluebird     5
American Robin     2
Gray Catbird     16
Northern Mockingbird     2
Nashville Warbler     1
Yellow-rumped Warbler     11
Connecticut Warbler     1
Song Sparrow     3
Northern Cardinal     9
Indigo Bunting     15
House Finch     8
American Goldfinch     20