Dear All
I have started looking at the radar images linked from the excellent website
www.woodcreeper.com which is lots of fun. Unsurprisngly last night's images
from the radar near Dulles Airport were laden with bird-like echos so I thought
I would have a look and see what was going on on the ridge in Rock Creek this
morning. The breakfasting of children delayed the start but from 07.30-08.45
it was still busy in the park with lots of common migrants going over the ridge
and Equitation Field area. There were about 750 Robins, 350 Cedar Waxwings
(in parcels of 10-50 birds), 150 or so goldfinches, 70 grackles, 40 Ring-billed
Gulls and three groups of silent smallish bouncy passerines that I have no idea
as to their identities, plus a good sprinkling of common birds in the edge of the
clearings, juncos, Song and White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Myrtle Warbler and a single Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The best birds were a
flock of about 70 waxwings feeding in a conifer and these were joined by a
pair of Purple Finches which showed really nicely. It all felt very lively and
birdy.
I wonder what the weekend might bring...
Cheers
Gary
|