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Major Chimney Swift movement, White-winged Scoters, Red-Br. Nuthatch, C&O Canal, Sycamore Landing (Mont. Co.) 10/9

From:

Jim Nelson

Reply-To:

Jim Nelson

Date:

Sat, 9 Oct 2010 20:21:32 -0400

I had an interesting opportunity this morning (Saturday) to bird the Sycamore Landing area of the C&O Canal in Montgomery County from a boat on the Potomac River.  My neighbor took me on his boat as he scouted areas to set up for the duck hunting season that starts next Saturday.  We tied up to Van Deventer Island on the north side facing the Sycamore Landing/turf farm area of the C&O Canal on the Maryland shore (near the west end of the island).  It was a 3-hour stationary count for me.  We scared up a flock of 8 White-winged Scoters as we approached the Island.  We also saw the Mute Swan that has been reported previously from this area of the Potomac near the east end of the Island which would be downstream of Sycamore Landing (later in the morning as we returned to Riley's Lock to end our trip, the Swan, assuming it was the same one, was on the back side of Tenfoot Island which is a little farther east on the River).  While moored at the Island, we heard a Red-breasted Nuthatch on the Island.  The most incredible part of this outing was the continuous stream of Chimney Swifts that passed over the period of an hour (from about 7:30 to 8:30).  The Swifts were flying upstream, mostly right above the Maryland shoreline (as if they were following the Canal) headed west at this point on the River.  I tried to be conservative in my count. Virtually all the birds were heading west without circling or hunting.  The groups varied in size but were continuous for the hour. I used 1,200 for my eBird count, but I honestly think it was probably many more than that.  The other highlight was seeing two adult Bald Eagles harass an Osprey, forcing it to drop its fish which one of the Eagles then promptly pickup up off the River.  I had 40 species for the morning.  Since we were on the water the list was short on land birds (I'm sure I would have seen or heard some others had I been on the Canal towpath).  My complete list from eBird is below.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

Location:     C&O Canal--Sycamore Landing
Observation date:     10/9/10
Notes:     Viewing from a boat on the Potomac River on the north side of Van Deventer Island near the west end looking north to the Maryland shore.  The Chimney Swifts were moving from east to west, upriver in a constant flow for about an hour.  Count of 1,200 is conservative.  White-winged Scoters were in a single flock.
Number of species:     40

Canada Goose     110
Mute Swan     1     Seen on north side of Van Deventer Island, near the east end.
Wood Duck     6
Mallard     16
White-winged Scoter     8     Birds were in a single flock and took flight as boat approached.
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Double-crested Cormorant     22
Great Blue Heron     7
Great Egret     4
Turkey Vulture     1
Osprey     1     Being harassed by two adult Bald Eagles and was forced to drop its fish.
Bald Eagle     3     Two adults were seen harassing an Osprey, forcing it to drop its fish.
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     2
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)     1
Buteo sp.     1
Peregrine Falcon     1
Killdeer     2
peep sp.     1
Rock Pigeon     29
Mourning Dove     2
Chimney Swift     1200     Viewing from a boat on the Potomac River on the north side of Van Deventer Island near the west end looking north to the Maryland shore.  The Chimney Swifts were moving from east to west, upriver in a constant flow for about an hour (7:30-8:30 a.m.).  Count of 1,200 is conservative. 
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     2
Pileated Woodpecker     2
Blue Jay     58
American Crow     10
Fish Crow     1
Carolina Chickadee     2
Tufted Titmouse     2
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     2
Carolina Wren     3
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     12
European Starling     62
Northern Cardinal     2
Common Grackle     3
American Goldfinch     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)