10 August
      You would think that during the week in summer and on the hottest day
of the year you could bird at Hughes Hollow in peace and quiet, but that
wasn't the case today as I started the day in an unpleasant fashion.
As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I saw a car there that had trouble
makers on July 3- two kids with guns walking into the fields.  I wasn't in a
position then to track them down, but today is was no problem since they
were on the dike firing their guns.  Quickly caught up with them and saw
they had a high power rifle (illegal here).  Ask them what they were doing.
Said they were shooting geese.  Explained to them that that wasn't legal
either and told them to leave, which they did.  This was the third time in
my last ten trips in the last month I have had unpleasant experiences here
and makes me wonder if it even worth birding here anymore.
       After following the shooters back to their car as they were mumbling
under their breath, I drove off to the middle parking lot and walked through
the fields to the towpath then west to the hiker-biker and then back through
the fields again.  This is the time of year that there are more insects
calling than birds and also when the sunflower food plots start attracting
goldfinch and doves.  The only plot I checked had 28 AM. GOLDFINCH and no
doves.  The river was almost birdless and there was no sign of stargrass
mats.
    Returned to the impoundments which were quiet also although I did see 2
GREAT EGRETS , 5 WOOD DUCKS, 4 E. PHOEBES,  and a family of E. BLUEBIRDS.
Heard a  trilling song briefly which may have been a Pine Warbler.  I found
no evidence that the shooters had killed any birds.
       At one time Rough-winged Swallows were common on the wires along
River Rd, but recently they have become very uncommon.  Coming in I had one,
two hours later there were 8 and when I left there were all of 10.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA