Aquia Landing Beach and Crows Nest Boardwalk – February 28, 2026
There’s a specific kind of peaceful anticipation in the air right on the edge of spring. Our group of eight gathered under a clear, bright sky to take advantage of the beautiful weather. With the temperature climbing comfortably into the 50s and a gentle, cool breeze coming right off the river, the conditions were perfect for scanning the water. We planned a two-stop morning, starting at Aquia Landing Park before making our way to the boardwalk at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve. As soon as we stepped out of the cars, we were greeted by the unmistakable sound of shifting seasons: dozens of Red-winged Blackbirds enthusiastically singing from the marsh, already busy claiming territories and calling for mates.
The water at Aquia Landing was bustling with activity. One of the quiet thrills of winter waterbirding is picking out the subtle differences among mixed flocks, and this outing gave us a chance to do just that. We had the experience of spotting a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the far shore and comparing it against nearby, but silhouetted, Greater Black-backed Gull. Out on the river, a similar challenge presented itself as we carefully distinguished Greater Scaup tucked away from a raft of Lesser Scaup. Despite the rewards of seeing Canvasbacks and Buffleheads, the unanimous crowd favorites of the morning were the half-dozen Horned Grebes gracefully diving in the river chop.
Then we moved to the quiet canoe launch at Crow’s Nest. The highlight there was a beautiful, congregating flock of fifty Tundra Swans resting on the water, while several Bald Eagles—part of the eight we saw throughout the day—kept a watchful eye from above. In total, we walked away with a very satisfying 46 species across the two locations. The transition of the seasons is definitely underway out on the river.