I was at Violettes Lock at noon today and there were no avocets. I then went up to Riley's Lock and walked upstream (for exercise - which is impossible to do with binoculars around your neck). About 1/2 mile past mile post 24, I thought I'd check out the white trash bag on the Virginia shore. It turned out to be a SWAN which then promptly swam upstream behind the island.

I walked briskly back to my car, stopping to check out the wood duck family in the inlet and the adult male Indigo Bunting feeding his whining fledgling on the towpath. My plan was to get to Sycamore Landing before the swan did.
Once there, I realized that the other "shore" is also an island but two GREAT EGRETS flew in for a treat.

At Hughes Hollow (why not?) an adult Orchard Oriole scolded me along with a House Wren but no Egrets were here. Just a nice pair of Balestris.

Anna Urciolo
Rockville, MD