One correction to my report.  The island where we moored is called Maddux 
Island (formerly Van Deventer Island).

Jim Nelson

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jim Nelson" <>
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 8:21 PM
To: <>
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Major Chimney Swift movement, White-winged Scoters, 
Red-Br. Nuthatch, C&O Canal, Sycamore Landing (Mont. Co.) 10/9

> 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)