After birding Rock Creek Park in DC this morning early, I continued
downtown, slowed substantially by roadwork and single-lane traffic on
the Rock Creek Parkway. I then spent 1-1/2 hours midday looking for
the reported Clay-colored Sparrow in the general area north and west
of the WW II Memorial.
I ran into Preston Friedler of Rockville, who had already been
watching for a spell and had come up cold. We walked all around the
Constitution Gardens pond and finally came across some Chipping
Sparrows in the grass just behind the upper paved path to the south
of the pond, where there are some dense shrubs and a wet area. In
this vicinity we found at least 10 Chipping Sparrows, 6
White-Throated Sparrows, 1 SWAMP SPARROW, and a single LINCOLN'S
SPARROW, well seen and studied for about a minute. Only my second
Lincoln's in DC - the first was on May 3, 1996, on a trip led by Dave
Czaplak to Battery Kemble Park.
I continued to watch in this area while Preston went to feed a
meter where he was parked. While he was away, I briefly saw a very
good candidate for the Clay-colored, but was not able to get all the
field marks on the bird, which perched briefly than flew off. I am
90% sure it was the bird, but 90 is not 100, and I don't count
it. Rats! I did find a FIELD SPARROW and heard a PRAIRIE WARBLER sing.
This same area was a hive of activity, partly because of several
small pools of water and it was getting pretty warm. I saw a
Catbird, a Thrasher, Goldfinches, Starlings, Jays, Robins, and a
Towhee, all bathing with evident enjoyment.
Better luck to others who go looking for the Clay-colored. I quit
when I just got too tired, hungry and thirsty.
The DC War Memorial area was very birdy, with a least 3 NASHVILLE
WARBLERS, 2 OVENBIRDS and loads of Yellow-rumps. This area is a great
migrant trap and should be good for the next few days or weeks.
Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD
D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom
