Arboretum Report

This morning went for my regular walk in the National Arboretum. The past two mornings have been the coldest in DC since February. I think that the cold may have caused the birds to hunker down, because there was very little activity for the first hour or so that I spent in the gardens. There was very little movement and even less vocalization.

The one spot that was really birdy was the holly and magnolia collection. There was a flock of at least 50 robins feasting on the berries of the hollies and crabapples. They were joined by a few mockingbirds and flickers, plus a small contingent of Carolina chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches. A red-tailed hawk that cruised past did not put a damper on the festivities.

SPECIES SEEN: 27

Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
European Starling
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal