First, the DC birds. I spent Saturday morning at the tip of Hains
Point, doing a 3 hour "sea watch," along with Rob Hilton and Callan
Swenson. It was a typical day in DC, with a few notables, namely:
1 male Purple Martin
1 adut Laughing Gull
1 Least Sandpiper - this was probably the best bird of the day. I never
saw it, only heard it as it flew over in the fog, giving its distinctive
"brrrt, brrrt" call. A March bird, with no personal April records -
they usually don't show up until May.
Duck numbers were very low and disappointing, with only c40 Lesser
Scaup, 4 Buffleheads, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 1 Green-winged Teal
1 Common Loon is almost copmlete alternate plumage
1 Horned Grebe in that motley look between crisp basic and stunning
alternate plumage
16 No. Flickers in 2 flocks, actually flying SSE
1 Tree and 3 other swallows that looked like Rough-wingeds, but I never
got a good enough look
8 American Pipits - flew over fairly low, heading north and looking like
they may have tried to land on the golf course
1 Merlin - in the big trees near the tip parking lot, having fun with
the crows.
Now for the incredible birding opportunity. To birders, the term
"distracted driving" usually has less to do with texting or applying
make-up, and more to do with looking out the window to identify that
raptor that's flying by while also trying not to hit the guy in front of
you. Well all of that will change when self-driving cars hit the
market. Imagine how many more birds you'll be able to enter into ebird
because you don't have to worry about sideswipng that oncoming tractor
trailer! The car will make sure that doesn't happen. For more
information about the future of birding behind the wheel, please read:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2012-03-25/self-driving-car/53734450/1
Good birding (and please keep your eyes on the road until technology
catches up)
Paul Pisano
Arlington, VA
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