Violettes Lock on Saturday

Late in posting a report from the weekend. I didn't get to resume my Veteran's Day Rt 270 raptor count. Too many errands to run that day. Took Sandi and the boys to Violette's Lock on Saturday morning to search for the neotropic cormorant that has been feeding in the Potomac lately. No sign of it but we did see two common loons, two horned grebes, several hairys, a downy, a flicker, a sapsucker, a creeper, white throated sparrows, juncos, lots of cardinals and both carolinas (wren and chickadee). Michael is getting very good at holding the binocular steady and was able to view two woodpeckers in one field view - "they're going up the tree" - and the loons diving in another field view - "they're going under the water." He also came upon some sparrows and found them in the glasses and told Sandi, "look at the sparrows mom." Liam didn't have binoculars but was very enthusiastic when he heard chickadees and knew what they were. Gabe picked walnuts and leaves and David quietly used his binoculars to look up and down the toe path.