Hi all --

Barry and I decided to look for some DC birds today, in anticipation of more road closings as well as bitter temperatures later in the week. It was sunny and almost windless at Hains Point, a bit cooler and starting to get breezy at LBJ Grove.

Hains Point was quiet, best bird a single perched MERLIN over the golf course. Also on the course was an immature Cooper's Hawk and an adult Bald Eagle. Waterfowl were few, the most interesting a large raft of an estimated 250 or so Lesser Scaup off Ft. McNair (that is, assumed to be Lessers, they were pretty far away even for a scope) .

We searched for the mixed bird flock at LBJ Grove and eventually located it about half-way along the grove, on the parkway side. Great activity for a while, then an adult Cooper's (small bright male) came through and the flock scattered. Continued looking for the activity, but it  had "evaporated" as birds flocks often do when disturbed. We did not find the Orange-crowned, but enjoyed good looks at:

Pine Warbler (2-3, one dull individual and probably 2 bright ones)
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER -- 1, a beauty
Brown Creeper - 1
Hermit Thrush - 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 6-8
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Plus Carolina Chickatees, Tufted Tits, W-B Nuthatches, Cardinals, White-throats and Song Sparrows.

We also saw a few birds in Virginia, best about 6 drake Hooded Mergs at Roaches Run.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD