Hi all.
Barry and I left for Kenilworth Park as soon as we saw Jason' message and probably got there about 10 AM or a bit after. Fortunately there were no mowers, dog walkers or soccer aficionados to be seen...just three fishermen way down near the old grown-up football field assembling some big fishing rods.
We walked up the mown path towards the marsh, and then along the long grass to the right (from the parking lot) -- keeping back from the edge so as not to flush the bird -- and didn't see anything. We also scanned the more open areas, again, nada. Barry then suggested we walk slowly along the shorter rough grass to the left, and I had just started to do this when I noticed the three fishermen were now walking up onto the ball field in the far corner where the no-mow area turns 90 degrees left. They were testing their rods' casting abilities, it appears, whipping them around. One of them walked up towards the unmown grass to place some sort of target, when the UPLAND SANDPIPER flushed from the area in front of him, it called once "whlip whlip" and flew right past me, perhaps 20' up, giving great views. I called to Barry and he turned and saw it as well. Unfortunately it circled to the left, gaining height and rather purposefully flew away in the direction of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. We did not see it return but it may have, since very shortly the fishermen finished their "testing" and returned to their cars.
This was a new DC bird for me so very pleased! Barry saw one or two back in the "olden days" when Bolling Field was accessible to the public and when it still had extensive undeveloped grassy areas for grasspipers (he has also seen Buffies there).
We then went over to KAG to see if by chance the Uppies was there, but very busy and quiet. Best birds were two Greater Yellowlegs on the marsh- we saw one catch a small silver fish, rather odd -- about 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a dozen Barn Swallows at the RR bridge and a Brown Thrasher being chased by a Mockingbird.
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD
----- Original Message -----
From: "jgbrc" <>
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2012 9:39:54 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Upland Sandpiper at Kenilworth Park, DC
Hi Everyone,
If you come out to look for the Uppie, just keep in mind that there aren't many open, grassy fields this far into metro DC for this bird to fly off to if it's flushed. So hopefully everyone can keep their distance so he/she can refuel after returning from southern Argentina!
Good Birding!
Jason Berry
Washington DC
P.S. I also had a flyover CATTLE EGRET flying up the Anacostia River at Kenilworth Park.
________________________________
From: Wayne Baumgartner <>
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2012 9:04 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Upland Sandpiper at Kenilworth Park, DC
Jason Berry reported this morning that he observed an Upland Sandpiper
at Kenilworth Park in the high grass near the mown path from the
athletic fields to the marsh.
Good Birding,
-Wayne Baumgartner
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