I went into DC this morning as much as anything to check on the new 
construction that has cropped up all over the place, especially in 
the areas visited by tourists in the spring and summer.  Alas -- 
there is chain link fence everywhere and getting around is even more 
difficult than usual.  And parking is even worse than usual.

The Constitution Gardens Pond is mostly frozen; only birds of 
interest there were a pair of American Wigeon and a single Coot.  The 
Reflecting Pool won't be reflecting for a while -- the water has been 
drained out but the years of accumulated bird droppings have not yet 
been bulldozed away.  Tree cutting around the DC War Memorial has not 
been as savage as I had feared, but lots of small bushes and scrubby 
places have disappeared.  The new MLK Memorial construction is coming 
along well and covers a greater area than I had realized.  (The 
statue of the great man by a Chinese sculptor is already in place and 
can be seen from outside the extensive fencing.)

Anyway, bird updates:  the 11 CACKLING GEESE seen and photographed by 
Dave Czaplak a few days ago are still in the Washington Channel, 
swimming with Canada Geese about level with the north most of the 
large officers' houses over on Fort McNair.  The BLACK-CAPPED 
CHICKADEE found at the end of 2010 and sporadically since was once 
again present in the small cherry trees north of the first bathroom 
on the river side of Hains Point.  This time I heard it before seeing 
it.  It was as usual very tame and approachable and today it was also 
very vocal.  No other chickadees in the vicinity.  I could not find 
the Pine Warbler that has been seen numerous times in this area by others.

Later, at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, I found another BLACK-CAPPED 
CHICKADEE, this one in the company of 5 Carolinas.  The size 
difference was striking.  In the same flock at KAG there was a Fox 
Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER -- 
perhaps the same one I found back on January 9. It was in exactly the 
same place -- the first marsh overlook you come to, on the left of 
the boardwalk.  The holly bushes near the entrance to KAG had many 
Robins and a Hermit Thrush.

Michael Bowen
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

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