I went to Hughes Hollow this morning and in addition to the ducks  
reported by Paul I saw two American Wigeons and at least 6 pairs of  
Hooded Mergansers on the large impoundment on the left side. Also one  
very vocal Canada Goose maybe sorry not to have left during the week,  
Bluebirds, Yellow Rumped Warblers, many grackles and red-winged  
blackbirds, one Downy and one Red-bellied Woodpecker, Chickadees, and  
one Phoebe.

On my way back I stopped at Violette's lock. The Potomac nearly  
reached the towpath upstream of the lock. Current was swift and there  
were many Gulls (Ring-billed mostly but I did not try hard...) and  
ducks, all being carried downstream very fast while facing upstream. I  
put my scope down and just looked at what was going through my field  
of view until I started feeling dizzy. It looked like a movie being  
rewound...The majority of the ducks were ring-necked, there were also  
numerous buffleheads, one red-headed duck, and one pair of Common  
Goldeneyes. I also saw one Double-crested Cormorant and, on land, one  
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.

	Evelyn

Evelyn Ralston



On Mar 14, 2010, at 6:19 PM, Paul Woodward wrote:

>    The rain let up enough that I was able to spend a couple hours  
> here. With my limited mobility I spent my time looking over the  
> impoundments.  The water levels are still high, but unlike last week  
> there were ducks on the open water- mainly male RING-NECKED DUCKS.   
> They have rebounded from their low numbers last spring (high count  
> 79) to 125 today with still more time for even higher numbers.  Also  
> had a calling PIED-BILLED GREBE-maybe this year I can confirm  
> breeding here.  Last year's high water eliminated any chance of a  
> successful nesting.
>       Not many migrants today-at least 275 RING-BILLED GULLS and two  
> small flocks of  TUNDRA SWANS (50 total) heading NW.
>      Landbirds are still scarce.  Until I can walk normally again I  
> won't be able to see what effect the snow had on the local bird  
> populations.  Did have a group of at least 75 TREE SWALLOWS.  None  
> of these birds were interested in the nest boxes.
>
> Paul Woodward
> Fairfax City, VA
> 

Evelyn Ralston