I had a wonderful walk in Fort Hunt Park (south of Alexandria) this afternoon.
Besides seeing a groundhog gorging on grass, I heard numerous Great Crested
Flycatchers, heard several Red-eyed Vireos, saw a Hermit Thrust wagging its
tail. Two mature eagles flew off as I approached their perch.
Two birds were FOS for me: a Swainson's Thrush and an Eastern Kingbird.
My question is: The nearby pilings on the Potomac River shoreline is a
favorite perch for Double-crested Cormorants. At the end of the pilings one
cormorant had its back to me. It swung its head around, perhaps to fluff up
its feathers. A great deal of white neck feathers were exposed. Could this be
the white throatstraps of a Great Cormorant? I know one should see this
species on the coast, but are they ever spotted on this part of the Potomac?
Mary-Carroll Potter
Fairfax County
