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Subject:

Osprey at Roaches Run, January 1

From:

Michael Bowen

Reply-To:

Michael Bowen

Date:

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 17:39:14 -0500

The Montgomery Bird Club "Earliest Bird" field trip into the District 
of Columbia today, 1/1/10, finished up as usual at the Roaches Run 
Waterfowl Sanctuary near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, 
Virginia.  Our bird of the day, a perched, then fishing, male OSPREY, 
was seen for several minutes from the parking lot just off the GW 
Parkway.  Perhaps this bird has been around for a while; anyway, we 
hope that it will stay for the DC Christmas Bird Count, which is 
scheduled for January 2, having been postponed from December 19.

DC birding was tough today, with many fewer waterfowl than usual for 
this date.  We searched the Canada Goose flocks in vain for a 
previously reported Cackling Goose. Only Lesser Scaup (and Mallard, 
of course) were common ducks.  The Constitution Gardens pond was 
mostly frozen and held just 6 Ring-necked Ducks.  We saw 2 active 
Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a big flock of House Sparrows near the 
Federal Reserve building on Constitution Avenue, signs perhaps of a 
more expansionary financial policy in the new decade.

The LBJ Memorial Grove in between the GW Parkway and the giant south 
parking lot of the Pentagon once again was generous to us Early 
Birders, giving us great looks at Winter Wren, Golden-crowned 
Kinglet, and Brown Creepers.  No warblers this year, though. This 
neat little park is technically in DC.  It can be reached only by 
driving south on the GW Parkway, due to ongoing construction of the 
"Humpback Bridge."

Good Birding.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club, MOS

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

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