Birds have been so scarce here recently I was beginning to wonder if 
this had been the site of an avian rapture. Today (8-31) dispelled this 
thought since things were back to normal for this time of year and I almost 
doubled my species lists from the last 2 trips.   Checked the main 
impoundments, the Potomac River from Sycamore Landing to Horsepen Branch, 
and a couple of the sunflower food strips that are planted for dove hunting.
     Highlights were 7 Great Egrets (6 in the impoundments and one along the 
river), 9 great blues, 2 Spotted Sandpipers along the river, 3 species (Gr 
Crested Flycatcher,  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and House Wren) that I hadn't 
recorded recently, and 197 Am Goldfinch (mostly in the sunflower patches). 
One male Am Redstart was the only likely migrant.
      On the negative side there were only 29 Mourning Doves.  Usually this 
time of year the telephone wires along River Rd are loaded with doves going 
into the food strips.  In past years rough-winged swallows were also common 
on the wires but recently they have become quite uncommon( I found none 
today along River Rd and 3 over the river).
       This is probably faulty memory but I don't remember Red-eyed Vireos 
(unlike yellow-throated and white-eyed) singing this late in the summer, but 
I have heard them on my last 2 visits.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA