Despite frequent dispersal by speedboats, cabin cruisers and racing 
crews with accompanying boats, a large flock of water birds kept 
returning to the same stretch of the Potomac River this morning, 
giving excellent views to those on shore on the West Potomac Park 
side.  It is currently very difficult to park along the road here 
because Cherry Blossom crowds are out in force.

I counted 120 BUFFLEHEAD, at least 40 HORNED GREBE, 30 or more RUDDY 
DUCK and a single AMERICAN COOT.  The Horned Grebes were in a wide 
variety of plumages, with a few in stark winter appearance and many 
close to full alternate.  NPS Ranger Robert Steele, who was already 
watching when I finally was able to park, said that the group had 
been in much the same area -- roughly midway between the Arlington 
Memorial Bridge and the 14th St. (I-395) Bridge -- for several 
hours.  A few BONAPARTE'S GULLS flew over while we watched.

Wayne Baumgartner also stopped by and was able to enjoy the same 
impressive sight.

I thought that this might have been the largest number of Horned 
Grebes I'd ever seen in DC, but when I checked my records I found 
that there were 50 in almost exactly the same place on the Potomac on 
November 8, 1992.

Farther downstream, closer to Hains Point, was a female RED-BREASTED 
MERGANSER and 8 LESSER SCAUP.   Perched in the big dead tree at the 
extreme South end of the Hains Point golf course was a male MERLIN.

Michael Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD

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

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