Well, I did not have a scope, just my binoculars, so that was not an
issue. I think it was a combination of something sensitive at the air
base across the Potomac and an overzealous officer. Either that or
binoculars have become suspicious items. I doubt that he had a legal
reason to ask me to leave, but I decided not to argue since I did not
think it would help the situation.

John Beetham
Washington, DC

Denise Ryan wrote:

>Is the issue of spotting scopes at the point back?
>
>Denise Ryan
>Washington, DC
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of John D. Beetham
>Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 1:31 PM
>To: 
>Subject: [MDOSPREY] Scaup in DC
>
>
>Down at Haines Point I found a male Lesser Scaup keeping close by a
>female (or perhaps non-breeding male) Hooded Merganser. They were in the
>Washington Channel near the point. The merganser was somewhat confusing
>at first because it was much darker and more evenly shaded than I would
>normally expect for a merganser, but the shape was right. Other birds
>included:
>
>Black-crowned Night-Heron
>Semipalmated Sandpiper
>Eastern Phoebe
>Northern Rough-winged Swallow
>Barn Swallow
>Yellow Warbler
>Baltimore Oriole
>Orchard Oriole
>
>Unfortunately my walk was cut short by a police officer worried about
>helicopter maneuvers over the Potomac.
>
>John Beetham
>Washington, DC
>
>
>