Hi all --

Barry and I went down to Hains Point to try and find the Black-capped 
Chickadees reported by Mike Bowen yesterday -- these would be new DC 
birds for us as well.

Unfortunately, despite a number of birders looking (we ran into Paul 
Pisano, Ottavio Janni, John Hubble and Rob Hilton down there) -- no sign 
of chickadees of any ilk up until the time we left (about 11:20 AM).

However we did see some nice birds so a good First Day for 2011! Most 
interesting were:

GLAUCOUS GULL : First cycle bird roosting on the Washington Channel 
ice with a number of commoner gulls, directly opposite the golf course 
club house.

MERLIN: Two birds perched in trees near the maintenance yard (south) 
end of the golf course. One was a large presumed female and the other, a 
tiny probable male (the smallest Merlin we have ever seen).

PINTAIL -- a female associating with a male Mallard in the Washington 
Channel. Not that common in DC.

PINE WARBLER -- Paul and company had relocated the Pine Warbler 
eported earlier in the week, and we found it a little later, assocaiting 
loosely with Titmice near the maintenance yard. A very bright individual.

Other birds of interest included:

Cooper's Hawk (adult)
Bald Eagle (adult)
Lesser Scaup (several small flocks)

The channel and much of the river down to about the 14th street bridge is 
iced over. Not too many waterfowl about as a consequence.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD





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