Hi all, 
My boyfriend was house sitting in Takoma Park this week and I took the opportunity to do some birding in Sligo Creek Park. This was from around 1:30 to 4:30 this afternoon--not the most ideal time to be birdwatching, I know, but I saw a surprising variety of species! Here's the list:

Chestnut-sided warbler (2)
Northern Cardinal (9)
American Robin (??)
White-breasted nuthatch (2)
American redstart (3)
Canada warbler (2) --very cooperative
Tufted titmouse (1)
European starling (1)
House sparrow (1)
Blue jay (5)
Gray catbird (5)
Common grackle (8) --one was having a grand old time splashing in the creek!
Blackpoll warbler (1)
Mallard duck (1)
Magnolia warbler (1)
Blue-gray gnatcatcher (3)
Downy woodpecker (2)
Red-eyed vireo (3)
Wood thrush (2)
Louisiana waterthrush (1)
Pileated woodpecker (1)
Great blue heron (1)
Carolina chickadee (1)
Yellow-crowned night heron (1) --great look at this handsome bird stalking almost underneath a bridge

On a more somber note, that morning we also came upon a dead male Magnolia warbler, the victim of a window strike. :(  As sad as I was to see such a beautiful creature dead, it was also an amazing opportunity to look closely at him and get to know some of the fieldmarks better.