I arrived at 3:30 and looked all over but had no luck.  I started at the fishing pier (by the HQ), and there were no birds anywhere near there except about 8 Gulls out in the mid-channel and a Harrier soaring down the river.  Great view of Mt Vernon!

Left there quickly to get over to the next spot (upstream; where the bird was seen originally).  What is the name of this area? It is unmarked and there is no obvious name.  I arrived there at ~ 3:40 and found Chris Ordiway scoping the river from the first vantage spot along the boardwalk.  We looked hard all along the boardwalk for an hour but the only grebes present were numerous Pied-billed and one Horned.  Good waterfowl variety but nothing unexpected.  I was vigilant on grebe searching so I did not look at the geese, but a flyover group of 6 had one that was about half the size of the others and may have been the Cackler seen earlier.  Red-headed Woodpeckers were going nuts and calling pretty much non-stop the entire time, and the large number of Wigeon and Gadwall were calling too.  A peaceful setting.

I settled for enjoying the ridiculously pleasant weather...

Canada Goose ~30
Gadwall ~ 25
American Wigeon ~ 40
American Black Duck ~30
Mallard  ~ 30
Ring-necked Duck 1
Bufflehead  ~10
Hooded Merganser 3
Pied-billed Grebe ~ 6 (hard to say, they moved around a lot)
Horned Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Northern Harrier 1
Laughing Gull 2
Ring-billed Gull ~ 30
Herring Gull ~ 10
Red-headed Woodpecker 3 or 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Hairy WoodPecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1

Asian Model (an attractive Asian woman) being professionally photographed - 1

From there, went up to Wharf Rd and arrived at 4:55.  There were 4 cars there and several people drinking beer - quietly, but no birders, or Eared Grebes.  As I was scanning the waterfowl, I overheard one of the visitors tell an interesting story.  Apparently he was there the previous night and helped a young fellow who had a mishap.  Somehow he damaged his door in the parking area and then somehow he mistakenly shifted his gear and it resulted in his vehicle going into the river!  It was retrieved without further incident by driving and pushing it out.

This place seems like a great roost for divers.  Chris O. said it is a good place to find American Coot, but I did not see any today.  I might suggest looking at this location with a friend, if you are a woman or nervous being alone.

Mallard 5
Bufflehead ~ 250
Ring-necked Duck ~20
Ruddy Duck ~ 420

No Eared, but an interesting eve ... !
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD