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Some DC birding

From:

Will McPhail

Reply-To:

Will McPhail

Date:

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:53:37 -0700

DC/MD Birders, 
 
I was looking forward to some DC birding on my day off this morning, but the birding gods would have none of it. I was literally going over my hit list for the day when my car would not crank at 7:30 in the AM. Dead battery = Bummer..... Long story short, next thing I know it was 11:30 and I was finally out at Hains Point. Not as I had envisioned it but better than work.
 
Not too much happening at Hains Point but I did have a latish Osprey across near the airport, many Cormorants, the 4 gull usual species (no terns!), 6 Palm Warbs as well as 1 Blackpoll. 
 
I had planned on hitting Kenilworth Park (Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center) early in the AM, then checking Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens after wards. As time was so late I went straight to the Aquatic Gardens. These are two interesting locals to bird and I had only visited each once in the past. Best birds at the Gardens were: 1 drake Black Duck with the Mallards, 3 Great Egrets in the vicinity of a GB Heron, 4 sparrows (WT, Song, Swamp, Field), 5 Woodpecker species, Phoebe, B Kingfish, RC Kinglet, YR Warbs and many migrating Robins, Bluejays and flocking Grackels. All in all nothing too exciting but an enjoyable time spent. 
 
On the way home I paid my first visit to Anacostia River Park. Just kind of did a spin through to get the feel for the place as time was running late. Many thanks to Paul Pisano for the directions! Just getting to all of these places deserves another full trip report..... Had the usual 4 gulls and tried me best with limited time to scan the 100-150 Laughers for an irregular hooded gull but to no avail. I'll be back later in the winter. 
 
I linked up with Steve Hersey later in the afternoon around 4:00 and we checked the Dog Run and Maintenance Yard at Rock Creek Park. Again, nothing unusual but we did have 5 Hermit Thrushes on one bit of porcelain berries looking very happy. A Barred Owl called , 3 RT Hawks soared and a few of the aforementioned Sparrows popped around. Nice evening to be out. I hope everyone has a great weekend!
 
Will McPhail 
Washington, DC