Hi Everyone,
Continuing my quest to explore the more "off-the-beaten-track" birding site in our nation's capitol (DC), I joined Paul Pisano and Frank Hawkins at Anacostia Park. While not as off-the-beaten-track as some other sites, it still deserves a little more attention. Furthermore, with development of the site a real possibility in the not so distant future, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bird it while you can!
The Anacostia Park is primarily a mix of grassland, scrub, swamp and marsh. Trails seem to be few and far between, but it's scrubby nature allows for easy access.
So how was the birding? The word "unexpected" does it for me and you'll see why - highlights included:
WILD TURKEY,
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO,
GRAY-CHECKED THRUSH,
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW.
More expected birds in a riverine and scrubby environment included: WILLOW FLYCATCHER, LAUGHING GULL, and PEREGRINE FALCON, BOBOLINKS.
While Paul and Franks began birding a little earlier than I did, my total number of species after a little over an hour was 44.
Here's my eBird report:
Canada Goose 16
Wild Turkey 1 seen from behind, but seemed to be a female
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 1 flyover
Great Egret 1 flyover
Green Heron 1 in dense secion of marsh
Osprey 3 2 breeding on nest
Solitary Sandpiper 1 flyover
Laughing Gull 2 flyover
Ring-billed Gull 5
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 possibly 2 by parking lot @ river.
Chimney Swift 5
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 calling
Willow Flycatcher 4 singing
Eastern Kingbird 2
Fish Crow 6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 oddly seen in scrubby cottonwoods. overall grayish brown, with black face.
American Robin 8
Gray Catbird 6
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 10
Yellow Warbler 6 common and vocal
Blackpoll Warbler 5 common and vocal
American Redstart 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Savannah Sparrow 1 (Jason) In short grass near parking lot by river
Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Along grassy strip by road
Song Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
Bobolink 4 along grassy/weedy strip by river road.
Red-winged Blackbird 5
Common Grackle 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 6 common near road.
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 3
Enjoy migration while it lasts, and don't forget to record your observation in eBird!!
Jason Berry
Washington, DC
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