It was a very quiet morning for warblers in DC, but I had great luck  
with a couple other birds.  I was searching for a previously reported  
Hooded Warbler (with no luck) behind the Nature Center in Rock Creek  
Park and came upon a very friendly flock of Wood Thrushes.  I've never  
seen more than one Wood Thrush at a time, but there were four within  
about a 50 square foot area, none of them making a sound.  A few  
minutes later I was looking at a Swainson's Thrush and a second thrush  
strolled into my binocular's field of view.  No eye ring, very plain  
face, very gray compared to the nice buffy Swainson's - GRAY-CHEEKED  
THRUSH.  It was also not making a sound so no chance of telling Gray- 
cheeked vs. Bicknell's.  Naturally my camera was sitting at home on my  
coffee table where I forgot it this morning - it would have been a  
great comparison photo - both Swainson's and Gray-cheeked in the same  
frame.

Another FOY was a Common Nighthawk first seen flying over the Ridge,  
and a bit later doing some circles over the Equitation Field.

Then I popped over for a quick walk at Hains Point.  Best bird was a  
LEAST FLYCATCHER making a Che-Beck racket....well, it only Che-Becked  
a few times, but it was very clear and kindly was perched about 30  
feet away.  This was a life bird for me (a Life-lifer, not just a DC- 
lifer), but it's song could not have been clearer so it was an easy  
call.

Other FOY birds for me were finally getting a visual on a B&W Warbler,  
and a gregariously singing first-year male Orchard Oriole.  I heard at  
least two other Orchards in the trees, but never saw them.   Also had  
male & female Yellow Warblers, and a couple Blackpolls.  Then the  
winds started kicking in and I decided the morning probably wasn't  
going to get any better, and I had a serious need for coffee.

Cheers,
Steve Hersey
Washington, DC