Today was the first day I was able to get out birding since my last post, and unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative. Rain arrived late last night and was heavy through the early morning hours before tapering off around noon; however, strong winds replaced the rain and made for some tough conditions the remainder of the day. Janet and I had a few things to do in the morning, but we risked the cherry blossom traffic and crowds to head down to Hains Point to look for the mini fallout of ducks that was reported earlier today during and immediately following the rain. Long-tailed and ruddy ducks, horned grebes, and a black scoter, among a few other species were reported, but we didn’t have any luck finding these birds by the time we arrived later in the afternoon. The water out on the Potomac was very choppy with the wind, but I still managed a full scan with the scope which only turned up a few bufflehead, plus (probably our bird of the day) a great black-backed gull.
This week is right around the time a yellow-crowned night-heron or two will show up in the city, typically either at the East Potomac Park roost or near the pedestrian bridge at LBJ Memorial Grove. Janet and I checked the night-heron roost at East Potomac Park and found six birds, all black-crowned. Perhaps a yellow-crowned will arrive in the next few days? Tonight is supposed to be poor migration weather, so I expect a Monday yellow-crowned arrival at the earliest at this point.
Despite the weather, we did see one of our favorite birds, an osprey occupying a nest on the train bridge spanning the Potomac. Gulls were quite active, as well, and we got great views of a red-tailed hawk and adult bald eagle. Spring is coming, but it hasn’t felt like it for the past few days!
