I was joined by three other folks to cover from Mile Marker 27 to Mile Marker 30 on the Canal (from Sycamore Landing almost to Edwards Ferry) today.  Waterfowl hunters were active along the River over the three miles, so waterfowl numbers were low.   But we did have a lot of Bufflehead and a smaller number of Lesser Scaup in one group, a couple of American Black Duck, and one Common Merganser.  We had Winter Wren in each mile, including one that posed for quite a while on a log doing what I dubbed a "Dipper dip" reminding me of bouncy thing the Dippers out West do.  No Red-headed Woodpeckers in our stretch, but there seemed to be a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers in each mile.  Quite a few Sapsuckers as well.  One Hermit Thrush in the first mile.  Brown Creepers and Gold and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets entertained in each mile, and we had a nice Barred Owl in the last mile.  It was a nice day to be out.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD