Today Brad Beukema, Chris Wright and I did the C&O Canal midwinter count
along the towpath starting at Milepost 22 (Violette's Lock) and continuing
past Riley's Lock (Seneca) up to Milepost 25. Over that three-mile stretch,
we literally found more RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS than Canada Geese. The RHWP's
were located beyond Milepost 24, as in previous years. At one point we saw
four adult birds at the same time. Overall, we tallied eight adults and two
immatures. If you go in search of these birds, look high up in the sycamores
across the canal.
We saw the six other woodpecker species as well. Ducks were present in
relatively small numbers, and bluebirds were surprisingly absent. One of the
day's highlights was a lengthy look at a Winter Wren foraging in the open in
bright sunlight -- a "life look," Chris called it -- a rare opportunity to
appreciate the intricately barred plumage of this small, secretive bird.
Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)
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"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot |