Came out this morning to take my regular site survey count (Hunting 
Quarter Rd) to see what effect yesterday's storm had on the area.  Other 
than higher water levels in the impoundments and ponds in the fields not 
much different.
      Ducks have pretty much departed.  I recorded 20 Wood Ducks, a male 
Gadwall ( good spring for this  more western species), 4 Blue-winged Teal, 8 
Green-winged Teal and 2 Ruddy Ducks (my FOY). Most interesting species was 
Hooded Mergansers.  I had seen them regularly through mid-March and then 
they disappeared,but on April 14 I saw 12 females in the large impoundment 
and today I had 11 females.  I am not sure what is going on since they 
should be nesting,  I didn't see the Red-breasted Mergansers that were 
supposedly seen yesterday.
        Arrivals for today were House Wren (1), Northern Parula (1), Prairie 
Warbler (2), and Common Yellowthroat (1).  My FOY were Greater Yellowlegs 
(2) and a Barn Swallow.
        Other interesting sightings were a Solitary Sandpiper (first seen on 
4-14),
a latish Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a White-eyed Vireo (first recorded on 
4-14), 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (they are starting to move through the area) 
and a small flock (75) of Rusty Blackbirds.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA
 

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