Birding by Metro Guide

When I lived in D.C., I did almost all of my birding by public transportation. Though initially I was dubious and somewhat intimidated by the D.C.'s complex rail and bus system, I found that I could visit almost all of the city's prime birding spots and see many bird species by Metro. In May 2004, I did a big day by Metro and observed 77 species. Each year I saw anywhere from 140 to 170 species within the District, using mostly public transportation for getting around. D.C. contains amazing biodiversity within its borders, and one does not a car to see it!

A few years ago, I began gathering and editing information to create a comprehensive guide to birding by public transportation in D.C. Some of that information was incorporated into the Birding Around DC guide for the DC Audubon website, and some of it became a series of posts on this blog. The final version is now complete.

You can find the web version of the birding by Metro guide here: http://www.dcaudubon.org/birdingbymetro

Inside the guide you will find detailed information about how to get to the city's birding sites and what birds you can expect to see there. The sites are grouped by Metro line and city quadrant. I also created a brochure version, funded through a grant by Audubon MD-DC, which will be distributed at future chapter events and local bird festivals.

If you have any suggestions about the guide, please email them to empidonax@gmail.com.

End of the Line

Yesterday was the last day of service for the X6, the shuttle bus route from Union Station to the National Arboretum.

X6 National Arboretum Line
Service will be discontinued due to low ridership.

The only public transportation to the Arboretum is now the B2, which connects to the Blue and Orange Lines at the Stadium-Armory station, and to other bus routes.

Birding by Metro: Metrobus

Previous editions of my birding by Metro series covered sites along the major Metrorail lines. Metrorail, of course, is not the only way to get around Washington, even if it is what most people mean by the word "Metro." This week, we will look at birding sites that can be reached only or primarily by Metrobus. Unlike other posts in this series, which were arranged by route, this post is organized by location.

Riding Metrobus requires a $1.25 fare, which can be paid in exact change or with a SmarTrip card. Ask for a transfer, which can be used (even on the same route) for a free ride until the time indicated on the transfer paper. The downside, of course, is that riders on Metrobus are more likely than rail riders to become stuck in traffic. For most weekend birders this will not be a problem; weekday birders may need to consider their routes.

Northwest

Rock Creek Park is the largest forested tract in the District, making it a classic migrant trap. The best birding areas are located on top of the park's western ridge, near the Nature Center. During spring and fall migration, the usual birders' route is to start at the Nature Center, walk south to visit picnic areas 17/18 at dawn, and then check the maintenance yard later in the morning. I prefer the maintenance yard for birding since most birds there will be at or below eye level. All northeastern species of warblers have been recorded in the park. On any given day during the peak period, one can expect to see 10-15 warblers, and more than that on really good days. In addition to the flood of warblers, attentive observers can expect to see both cuckoos, all eastern thrush species, tyrant flycatchers, orioles, and many sparrow species. Directions: Take the E2, E3, or E4 bus to the corner of Military Road and Glover Road, near the Nature Center. These routes run between the Friendship Heights and Fort Totten stations on the Red Line, and connect to many other bus routes along the way.

Georgetown Reservoir is one of several storage reservoirs maintained for the Washington Aqueduct. Water birds find the reservoir attractive. Though the reservoir is surrounded by a chain-link fence, birders may view the impoundments from the sidewalk. Ring-necked ducks, scaup, canvasback, coots, and grebes can be seen throughout the winter. This is a reliable spot for finding lesser black-backed gulls. Directions: The D3, D5, and D6 buses stop right at the reservoir on MacArthur Boulevard. These bus routes connect to the Red Line at Dupont Circle.

Fletcher's Boathouse is a favored access point and birding location on the C&O Canal. Check the trees around the boathouse for nesting orioles and warbling vireos. Prothonotary and yellow-throated warblers breed in swampy woods along the towpath east and west of the boathouse. In winter, mergansers and other diving ducks may be seen on the river. From Fletcher's Boathouse, you can walk a mile northwest to the Chain Bridge, which is a good location to find waterfowl, herons, and raptors around the pools in the rock formations. Directions: Take the D3, D5, or D6 bus to the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Reservoir Road. (These bus routes connect to the Red Line at Dupont Circle.) Walk down Reservoir Road and VERY carefully cross Canal Road to the entrance drive for Fletcher's Boathouse.

Glover-Archbold Park is a thin strip of forest that acts as another migrant trap in northwest Washington. The most interesting section for birders is just above Reservoir Road. The park is generally good for bird species that prefer forest and edge habitats. Go during spring and fall migration to look for warblers and thrushes, including the veeries that breed in the park. Directions: The D3 and D6 run along Reservoir Road and stop near the entrance to the park. (If you are coming from the east, it will be right after the French Embassy.) Both routes connect to the Red Line at Dupont Circle.

McMillan Reservoir, one of the Washington Aqueduct's water treatment plants, is an irregularly-shaped body of water across Michigan Avenue from the Washington Hospital Center and near Howard University. East of the reservoir there is a grasslands area where water was formerly filtered through sand tanks. Both areas are fenced and off-limits to the public, but birders can view birds from the sidewalk. The best viewing area for the reservoir is at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 4th Street. The reservoir is good for waterbirds in migration. Directions: The 80 bus stops at North Capitol and Michigan Avenues, next to the grasslands. The H1, H2, H3, and H4 buses stop at the reservoir.

Northeast

The National Arboretum consists of 446 acres of fields, woods, and display gardens, with some of the largest stands of conifers in D.C. Some of the better birding spots are in the Azalea Gardens, the Asian Gardens, and a trail that runs parallel to the Anacostia River. In spring and fall, check the Azalea and Asian Gardens for migrating warblers, thrushes, and other songbirds. The Azalea Gardens in particular are very good for thrushes, including gray-cheeked and Swainson's thrushes. Any of the pine groves may hold a pine warbler or red-breasted nuthatch in late winter or early spring. In winter, check conifers for owls. Directions: Use the X6 from Union Station on weekends. On weekdays, the closest bus stop to the Arboretum is the B2 at R Street and Bladensburg Road. The B2 connects with the Blue and Orange lines at the Stadium-Armory station.

Kingman and Heritage Islands are artificial islands in the middle of the Anacostia River just south of Benning Road. Access to the islands is via a wooden bridge from the RFK stadium parking lot. Currently access to the islands is limited, but plans are in the works to create a nature center and walking trails. Waterfowl and herons use the river year-round. Gulls, terns, and shorebirds may be present on the mudflats around the islands during migration. Check brushy areas for songbirds. Directions: The X2 bus stops near Kingman Island on Benning Road. The Stadium-Armory station on the Blue and Orange lines is close by, but requires a longer walk.

Southeast

Fort Dupont is an underbirded park despite its good habitat. It consists mainly of upland forest, with some edge and scrubby areas, and has a well-maintained trail system with easy public access. Ovenbird, pine warbler, and scarlet tanager breed in the woods here. Check the shrubs around the fort for white-eyed vireos, indigo buntings, blue grosbeaks, and wild turkeys. Directions: The V7, V8, V9, and U2 buses run along the park on Minnesota Avenue on the west side of the park, and the A11 and M6 run near the park of Alabama Avenue on the east side of the park.

In addition to the sites listed here, many of the other sites listed in previous editions of Birding by Metro can be reached by Metrobus, which in some cases may be easier than rail. To find routes, use the "Trip Planner" on the WMATA website. If you know of good, Metro-accessible sites not listed here, please note them in the comments. I especially would appreciate learning about sites outside of Washington's borders. Any feedback is welcome.

Other posts in this series: Introduction, Green/Yellow, Blue/Orange, Red

Birding by Metro: Red Line

This week's birding by Metro post covers sites on the Red Line. The Red Line runs a U-shaped route from eastern Montgomery County south into downtown D.C., and out again through northwest D.C. and central Montgomery County. It is the only Metro rail line that does not share tracks with another line for at least part of its length. As always, you can find information about train schedules and routes at the WMATA website.

Silver Spring

Rock Creek Park has the largest tract of woodland in the District. The best migrant traps in the park are in the central portion, along the ridge near the Nature Center. The northern portion of the park offers upland forest and riparian habitats that can be explored for woodland birds but remains relatively underbirded. Directions: From the Silver Spring station, turn west (left) down Colesville Road, which turns into North Portal Drive at the District border. Turn left from North Portal Drive onto East Beach Drive, bear right onto West Beach Drive (at Kalmia Road), and keep going south along West Beach Drive. Watch for trails into the park on either side of the road.

Fort Totten Station

Fort Totten Park is on a grassy and wooded ridge that surrounds one of the forts built to protect the federal capital during the Civil War. While not a true migrant trap on the scale of Rock Creek Park, Fort Totten does attract birds, particularly in migration. Look for migrant warblers and vireos and nesting flycatchers. Hawks may be seen in all seasons. Directions: From the station, cross the parking lot and follow the asphalt path around the hill.

Brookland/CUA

Catholic University is bordered by small tracts of woodland on its north and west edges. These woods attract migrants in spring and fall. Several species of raptors, including red-shouldered hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, peregrine falcon, and American kestrel have been spotted around the campus in recent years. Fort Bunker Hill Park (at 13th and Otis Streets in the Brookland neighborhood) attracts migrant birds, including red-headed woodpecker, rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, and various warblers. Directions: For Catholic University, follow the marked exit from the station and walk across the campus. For Fort Bunker Hill Park, use the Brookland exit and walk east along Otis Street.

Woodley Park / Zoo

The National Zoo stands on a bluff overlooking Rock Creek. The zoo contains many captive animals, but birders are welcome to search the zoo for wild birds. Check the wetlands near the bird house for waterfowl in winter and wild nesting black-crowned night-herons in summer. Red-shouldered hawks sometimes breed in the vicinity. Orioles and kingbirds nest in the sycamores near the big cat enclosures. Wood ducks breed along the creek during the summer and gather there in large numbers during the winter. Occasionally other wild waterfowl will keep them company.

Cleveland Park

Rock Creek Park can also be reached from the Cleveland Park station. The creek at Peirce Mill usually has a wood duck contingent, and swallows breed in the buildings there. By walking north from Peirce Mill, one can reach the traditional hotspots along the ridge. Directions: To reach Peirce Mill, walk north along Connecticut Avenue from the station. Walk down into Rock Creek Park via the ravine trail in Melvin Hazen Park. (N.B.: This trail can be difficult when wet.)

Tenleytown/AU

Fort Reno Reservoir is located on Fessenden Street between Wisconsin and Nebraska Avenues. The reservoir is underground and the top of the hill is surrounded by a fence. The lawn inside the fence is sometimes allowed to grow into a meadow. This is a good place to spot open-country birds if the grass in the enclosures has not been mown. As the highest point in DC, Reno Reservoir is a fine place for hawk watching in both spring and fall. Watch for southbound common nighthawks in August and September. Directions: From the station, walk north on Fort Drive to the park.

If you know of good, Metro-accessible sites not listed here, please note them in the comments. I especially would appreciate learning about sites outside of Washington's borders. Any feedback is welcome.

Other posts in this series: Introduction, Green/Yellow, Blue/Orange

Birding by Metro: Blue and Orange Lines

This week's post in my series about birding by Metro covers sites on the Blue and Orange Lines, which run together on an east-west route through center of Washington. They run separately through northern Virginia, converge at the Rosslyn station, and then part again the the Stadium-Armory station, with the Orange Line running northeast and the Blue Line running east. These subway lines offer relatively close access to some of the best birding that the District has to offer.

Blue and Orange Lines

Rosslyn

Roosevelt Island, Washington's monument to our 26th president, offers a variety of habitats in its 91 acres. Look through the upland hardwood forest that covers the north and west sides of the island for warblers and tanagers in migration, nesting red-shouldered hawks, and wandering mixed-species flocks in winter. The tidal marsh offers views of wood ducks and sparrows. The wooded swamp is reliable in winter for fox and swamp sparrows, winter wrens, and brown creepers. Prothonotary and yellow-throated warblers are regular visitors to the island in the spring. Directions: Walk from the station towards the Key Bridge. Just after crossing Washington Parkway, turn right onto the bicycle path, which will take you to the parking lot and foot bridge to Roosevelt Island.

Foggy Bottom

Foggy Bottom is the District's only Metro station with close access to the C&O Canal. Unfortunately birding possibilities at the start of the canal are rather limited, compared to conditions farther upstream. Check the river for waterbirds and watch the sides of the towpath for songbirds. Bird life along the canal becomes more interesting after about milepost 3. Directions: Walk west from the station along Pennsylvania Avenue and M Street to 30th Street. Turn left and walk along 30th Street to the canal.

Smithsonian

Hains Point and the Tidal Basin are at their best in winter, when crowds of tourists give way to migrant waterfowl and gulls - and the birders who come to look for them. At times, the number of gulls will grow into the thousands; search among them for less common gulls like lesser-black-backed, glaucous and Thayer's, which tend to show up during late-winter deep freezes. Scaup, mergansers, buffleheads, grebes, and coots are common at both locations; loons sometimes appear. The golf course regularly hosts open country species and shorebirds; at least one merlin visits each winter, and as many as three have been seen at once on this small territory. Check the holly trees for flocks of cedar waxwings and kinglets. The 14th Street railroad bridge hosts an osprey nest each spring, and peregrine falcons love to perch on its trusses. Directions: From the Independence Avenue exit, walk west on Independence and south along 15th Street to the Tidal Basin. To reach Hains Point, walk clockwise around the Basin and under the series of highway and railroad bridges. Most of Hains Point is a golf course, but a walkway around the edge of the island is open to the public.

Constitution Gardens is located north of the World War II Memorial and east of the Vietnam Memorial. In winter and early spring migration, look for ring-necked ducks, bufflehead, and wigeons on the lake. During later spring migration, warblers, vireos, and orioles may be in the trees. Check the shrubs around the lake and the lawn near the Vietnam Memorial for sparrows. White-crowned and Lincoln's sparrows have visited here. Directions: Walk diagonally from the station across the grounds of the Washington Monument.

The DC Veterans WWI Memorial is a quiet, lesser-known spot tucked in the woods away from the WWII Memorial. The memorial itself is a simple bandshell. This spot regularly attracts warblers and thrushes during songbird migration in spring and fall. Directions: Cross the grounds of the Washington Monument and bear left around the WWII Memorial; watch for the bandshell to your left.

Among the museums on the south side of the Mall there are a series of gardens. These small oases of green sometimes attract birds during migration. The Enid Haupt Garden (behind the Smithsonian Castle) and Hirschorn's sculpture garden have the usual urban birds, but more unusual species occasionally drop in. Ripley Gardens (adjacent to the Arts and Industries Building) hosted black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds in 2003-4. Directions: All three gardens are just west of the Mall entrance to the Smithsonian station.

Federal Center SW

This station is close to two other small gardens. The National Museum of the American Indian created a series of gardens to demonstrate the sorts of plants common in the area before the arrival of Europeans. For birding purposes, the best spot is the wetland area east of the museum, which attracts swamp sparrows and red-winged blackbirds. Outdoor gardens maintained by the U.S. Botanic Gardens feature sparrows in winter and ruby-throated hummingbirds in summer. An occasional warbler may be present in migration.

Potomac Avenue - Central Anacostia Park

Anacostia River Park is a thin strip of parkland running along both sides of the Anacostia River, from its mouth north into Prince Georges County. The best areas for birding are on either side of the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge. In winter, watch for gulls, ducks, and other waterbirds. Check for migrant shorebirds on the playing fields at high tide; at low tide check the mudflats for gulls and terns. Directions: From the station, walk south along Pennsylvania Avenue and across the river. (Visiting this park by Metro involves much walking, so allot enough time for the walk to the park, in addition to time you might spend there.)

Stadium-Armory

Kingman and Heritage Islands sit in the middle of the Anacostia River just south of Benning Road. Eventually the islands will host an environmental education center and trails; currently access to the islands is irregular. Waterfowl and herons use the river year-round. Gulls, terns, and shorebirds may be present on mudflats around the islands during migration. Check brushy areas for songbirds. Directions: From the station, walk north past the stadium and cross the parking lots to a footbridge that connects to the islands. The gate may or may not be open.

Blue Line Only

I do not know of any good birding sites accessible only from the Blue Line. If you happen to know of one, please note it in the comments.

Orange Line Only

Minnesota Avenue

Kenilworth Park on the east bank of the Anacostia River has open playing fields and managed meadows. This is the most likely site in D.C. to see such open-country birds as meadowlarks, horned larks, bobolinks, and vesper and savannah sparrows during their appropriate seasons. Sometimes shorebirds appear at high tide during May and August. Blue grosbeaks have nested in the park. Falcons and northern harriers appear here occasionally in winter. Directions: Use the west station exit for a pedestrian bridge that crosses 295. Walk one block west to Kenilworth
Terrace, and then two blocks north to the park entrance.

Deanwood

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is one of the top two birding spots in the District. Visits here are fruitful in all seasons. Display ponds for aquatic plants are surrounded by a 77-acre tidal wetland that includes a large tract of wooded swamp. From the park's visitor center, you can walk through the display ponds to boardwalks that lead out into the marsh. There is also a river trail that curves around the tidal marsh and through the wooded swamp. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, and occasionally rails may be seen in the marsh and around the display ponds. Sparrows, including field, fox, Lincoln's, and white-crowned, are found along the boardwalk and the river trail. Prothonotary warblers, both orioles, indigo buntings, and warbling and white-eyed vireos breed along the river trail. Directions: Walking west from the station, use the pedestrian overpass to cross 295, then walk west along Douglass Street and north along Anacostia Avenue to reach the gardens.

If you know of good, Metro-accessible sites not listed here, please note them in the comments. I especially would appreciate learning about sites outside of Washington's borders. Any feedback is welcome.

Other posts in this series: Introduction, Green/Yellow

Birding by Metro: Green and Yellow Lines

Last week, I introduced a new series about birding by Metro in and around the District of Columbia. Each post in the series will cover different routes. This week, we will look at sites on the Green and Yellow Lines, which run together through central Washington.

Green and Yellow Lines

Fort Totten Station

Fort Totten Park is on a grassy and wooded ridge that surrounds one of the forts built to protect the federal capital during the Civil War. While not a true migrant trap on the scale of Rock Creek Park, Fort Totten does attract birds, particularly in migration. Look for migrant warblers and vireos and nesting flycatchers. Hawks may be seen in all seasons. Directions: From the station, cross the parking lot and follow the asphalt path around the hill.

Green Line Only

Waterfront/SEU Station

The Southwest Waterfront provides an alternate view of waterbirds along Washington Channel. Check the channel for ducks, coots, gulls, and grebes. Washington Channel is most interesting for birding from November through April. Directions: Walk two blocks west along M Street to Water Street, and then follow Water Street along the docks.

Anacostia Station

Poplar Point is a small park under the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (South Capitol Street), near the mouth of the Anacostia River. This small peninsula offers views of the Anacostia River. Look for ducks, grebes, and gulls on the river. Flocks not visible from other vantage points may be visible here. Willow flycatchers and orchard orioles breed in this location, and gamebirds are sometimes seen in the tall grass along the road. The future of this site as a birding spot depends on what happens during construction of a soccer facility. Directions: From the station, follow Howard Road north into the park. (Watch for traffic near the entrance and exit ramps for 295.)

Yellow Line Only

Eisenhower Avenue

Cameron Run is a creek that empties into the Potomac River just south of Alexandria. When the river is at high tide, many shorebirds leave the river's mudflats to rest and forage along Cameron Run. This is probably the best Metro-accessible location to look for shorebirds, since it offers a short viewing distance from the sidewalk to the creekbed. The site is especially good during August. Directions: From the station, walk west along Eisenhower Avenue, crossing the Telegraph Road overpass and passing an office park. Start birding when the creek is visible from the sidewalk.

If you know of good, Metro-accessible sites not listed here, please note them in the comments. I especially would appreciate learning about sites outside of Washington's borders. Any feedback is welcome.

Birding by Metro: Introduction

Many Washington residents are carless, some because of the hassle or expense of finding parking, others out of necessity. Some residents own cars but choose to limit their driving because of high gas prices, the annoyance of sitting in traffic, or concern over greenhouse gas emissions. Some DC-area birders fall into these categories. How can birding fit into a car-free lifestyle?

The answer is that birding is still a viable pursuit in the District, even without driving, through the use of public transportation. While the use of public transportation imposes some limitations, most major sites are indeed accessible. This series will discuss the birding sites that fall along the various Metro routes, along both rail and bus lines. Since this post will serve as an introduction, here are a few general principles to birding by Metro.

• Know the fares and schedules in advance. Timetables and fare information for rail and bus routes are available on the WMATA website. Buses require either exact change or a SmarTrip card.
  
• Map locations in advance. Use mapping resources to plan a route from the birding site to the nearest rail station or bus stop. This is especially important if the birding site is in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Google Maps and Google Earth offer sharp satellite images of the District.
• Be safe. All of the sites and routes that I will cover in this series are generally well-patrolled, and I have not had any uncomfortable or dangerous incidents. Still, use common sense: take a friend for birding in isolated or unfamiliar areas, and watch out for traffic at busy intersections.
  
• Be aware of limitations. Not all of the best birding areas are easily accessible by Metro, and some require a substantial walk from the station or bus stop. Factor for these when you plan for time and distance. For some locations, travel by Metro may take longer than travel by car, so plan accordingly.
  

As I have mentioned before, I do not own car, so I have to use the Metro system if I want to bird within the District. I learned the best routes by trial and error over the first year that I spent birding. The downside of getting to sites by Metro instead of by car is that it restricts which sites I can visit easily; there are some places that I rarely or never visit. There is an upside, though, and that is getting to know some places very well. In particular, I have explored most of the nooks and crannies of the National Arboretum in my search for new birds.

Posts from this series will eventually be compiled into an article for the DC Audubon website.