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This morning I met Niko, a DC Birding Blog reader, for a few hours of birding at the National Arboretum. We covered most of my usual route, from the visitor center to the Anacostia and back. Many birds are still singing, including chipping sparrows, common yellowthroats and northern parulas, both of which we saw or heard in multiple locations. A belted kingfisher dove for fish in the small pool in front of the columns, and a killdeer was in the small muddy patch nearby.
There was an indigo bunting singing at the end of the Asian Gardens path to the river. We found it perched on top of one of the taller bamboo stalks. I chased after a brown and yellow bird that I suspected might be a chat, but it eluded us. My view was not good enough to be sure that it was not a yellowthroat, but it seemed larger. As we walked down the river trail, we saw two osprey and a great egret in flight.
I should note that the red-tailed hawk we saw from the Asian Gardens is the first red-tailed hawk that I have seen in D.C. in the period between the beginning of May and the end of July. That helps answer my question about their breeding season status in the District.
BIRD SPECIES: 45
Great Egret
Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
European Starling
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Northern Parula
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
