Hi all --

A rather threatening day weather-wise (we had hail en route downtown) so
decided to look for the Cattle Egret that Jim Felley reported yesterday. We
did and it was still in the exact same spot (where Tidal Basin empties out
into the Potomac, actually feeding on the grass), A very attractive
individual in full breeding plumage. A new DC bird for both of us!

We then drove around Hains Point; there were a lot of gulls on the golf
course but all Ring-bills save a couple of immature Herrings and Caspian
Terns.

At the lane which runs between the south end of the golf course and the
fenced maintenance area, we ran into mini-fallout of migrants, and a few
more along the golf course hedge row near one of the restrooms. Many were
first of the year for us. Birds of interest included:

Green Heron - 1
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Eastern Kingbird - 1 FOY (looking rather unhappy)
Eastern Phoebe (1)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 10
Brown Thrasher - 8 (!) FOY
GRAY CATBIRD - 1 FOY
Hermit Thrush - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2
RED-EYED VIREO - 1 FOY (singing)
Palm Warbler - 2 FOY (both yellow)
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Yellowrumped Warbler - 20+
ORCHARD ORIOLE - 2, (male and female) FOY
Eastern Towhee - 12 (!)
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Chipping Sparrow - 6
Junco - 2

Plus a number of Red-wings, Grackles, White-throated and Song Sparrows, etc.

We then went to Roosevelt Island where we got hit by heavy rain, very little
activity, best birds another Hermit Thrush and an immature Red-shouldered
Hawk.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD