Last night's front produced little change in birdlife along the Potomac
River south of the visitors' center than I encountered on the same walk
yesterday. Migrants included Parula Warblers (2), Palm Warbler (1),
Louisiana Waterthrush (2), Barn Swallows (6) along with Tree and Rough-winged
Swallows, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2), Eastern Phoebe (1), Wood Duck (8), and 10
Brown-headed Cowbirds. A surprise this morning was a Great Egret, a species I
have seen rarely at Riverbend.
Back home, I still had 15 Pine Siskins at the thistle this morning, down
from a peak of about 50 in the winter months. A recent influx of
Goldfinches and have joined the Siskins in chowing down on the thistle. The
sunflower feeders are still hosting at least 3 Purple Finches, including 2
males
which look more striking by the day as breeding season approaches. The
males House Finches are no slouches either as they don their breeding plumage.
Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA
**************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the
web. Get the Radio Toolbar!
(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000002)
