The District of Columbia Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Dec 20, 2014.
Participants tallied 101 species on count day and reported 35,920 individual
birds. Overall, trends show resident woodpecker and small woodland
passerines doing well while grassland birds continue to decline and in some
cases, have disappeared from the area. Downy Woodpeckers broke a new count
record. Of course, the highlight bird of the day was the Reagan National
Airport Snowy Owl seen from Gravelly Point. There was lots of good stuff on
the Virginia side of the river too, with a young male Surf Scoter at Dyke
Marsh, and a Cackling Goose, 3 Dunlin, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the
Hunting Creek mudflats. A Greater White-fronted Goose, American Bittern,
and Northern Harrier at Dyke Marsh were count week birds, but were no shows
on count day. On the other side of the river, an Iceland Gull put in an
appearance at Anacostia Park and a Common Raven was seen and heard over
Fletcher's Boathouse in Georgetown and again flying north over
Glover-Archbald Park.
We had good waterfowl diversity, but with low numbers (1 Redhead and 1
Canvasback). Wood Ducks were reported from several locations, including Rock
Creek Park and flying over the GW Memorial Parkway. I received 3 reports of
Common Loon (Oxen Hill Cove, Daingerfield Island, and the 14th Street
Bridge). Counters located Black-crowned Night-Herons at a few spots,
including near the airport and at Ben Brenman Park off Columbia Pike.
Bald Eagles are doing extremely well. I received nearly 60 different
reported sightings of Bald Eagles. Even after eliminating the possible
duplicates, I came up with 43 birds. The total includes birds seen at 4
active nests in the count circle. Besides the previously mentioned Iceland
and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Bonaparte's Gull was a delightful addition
to the gull diversity. Eastern Phoebes put in a big appearance this year,
with 6 reported in the count circle. The Alexandria waterfront area produced
Common Yellowthroat and Pine Warbler while an Orange-crowned Warbler gave
great looks to a birder near the FDR Memorial. Rusty Blackbirds were again
reported; 2 were seen in Alexandria. Purple Finch (3 observed) and Pine
Siskin (7 observed) reports came from several locations.
Larry Cartwright
Compiler, District of Columbia Christmas Bird Count
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