My friend Sharon and I took a bird walk on the C&O canal and the river trail
at Great Falls  late this afternoon. It was petty good:  On the river trail
we had a great look at an adult Great Crested, and a couple of Juvies as
well.  An Eastern Kingbird was actively fly- catching at eye level over the
river and then perching for us 15 feet away. .
We saw two Prothonotary Warblers and heard a third in the woods.  On the
river rocks were at least 50 immature Double Crested Commorants, and a dozen
or more immature Great Blue herons, as well as a few Wood Ducks.  Back on
the tow path, we saw and heard a Pee-wee. I found two more Baltimore oriole
nests (for a season total of 5); at one of the nests we watched a just
fledged chick being fed by the adults. Ran into a  couple of birders we know
who said they had been watching the eagles nest on Conn Island and that the
juvies were just about to fledge.  Finally, we spotted a just fledged
Red-wing Blackbird in the reeds by the path to the parking lot, also being
fed by the adults.  Chimney Swifts were abundant in the sky as well.
Not  a bad walk at all.


-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.