I had the pleasure of birding with Rob H. & Ottavio J. yesterday (Sat.,
10/17) in the miserable weather.  While we didn't find anything earth
shattering, we did see a few good birds for DC:

1 Northern Harrier - over Poplar Pt.
2 Dunlin - flying up the Potomac, seen from Hains Pt.
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult at Anacostia River Park
1 COMMON TERN - getting very late for this (my first for October in DC).
 It showed very well, alighting on the ground right next to our car in
Anacostia River Park, and then flying off only to land again, amongst
all the Laughing Gulls
2 White-crowned Sparrows - Kenilworth Park

I went out to Hains again this (Sun, 10/18) morning and there was quite
a bit on the move, but again, nothing earth shattering.  Highlights:

33 Forster's Terns - flying up the Anacostia in small, tight flocks, and
then eventually working their way back downriver.  Seen from Hains Pt. 
This is a fairly high number for DC these days (I'm guessing it wouldn't
have been unusual in the Halcyon Hydrilla days).  No sign of yesterday's
Common Tern with them, though that bird was hanging with the gulls, not
the other terns.


3,000 Laughing Gulls - this is a very rough estimate, but these buggers
were everywhere!  On the golf course, in the Washington Channel, at the
tip of Hains, and up the Anacostia.  I still find this fall amassing of
Laughing Gulls in DC to be pretty amazing.  Where are these birds coming
from.  Add to that the fact that 99% are adults.  Where are all the
young birds? And why don't they go up the Potomac into Montgomery Co
(per Dave Cz's email)?

3 Tree Swallows - getting latish.

Good birding,
Paul Pisano
Arlington, VA