About 4:50 this afternoon I took the ramp up from the Clara Barton Parkway
onto the American Legion Bridge, heading into Virginia.  As usual, the
bridge was packed in all lanes and lots of lane changes as folks, like me,
tried to get into traffic and/or get to an exit ramp.  Suddenly, I noticed,
ahead of me, on the upriver side, two birds diving down out of sight. I
wondered, quickly, if it was a Peregrine Falcon as I know they nest on that
bridge. Then, about 5 seconds later, what was clearly a Peregrine reemerged
from under the upriver side of the bridge and flew downriver across the
bridge, just above eye level and about 40- yards in front of my car.
Regrettably, there was no way to stop or even slow down in that traffic, but
what a glorious few seconds it was to see the falcon shoot across in front
of me, and SO close! .
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.