Riverbend Regional Park – 17 January 2026

Our group of 15 birders met at Riverbend Regional Park on a damp, gray morning, but the weather had a magical surprise in store for us. As we birded down the trail, a wall of heavy snow flurries moved in over the Potomac, transforming the forest into a quiet winter wonderland. Despite the chill, 38°F with a light breeze and continuous snow and graupel (snow pellets), the river was alive with activity. We enjoyed spotting lots of Ring-necked Ducks, looking very dapper in their striking plumage. They were joined by active groups of Buffleheads, always fun to see, diving and flying low over the water, as well as several elegant Common Mergansers. The clean-lined white bodies of the males and the spiky cinnamon heads of the females stood out beautifully against the gray water.

While the waterfowl provided a steady stream of sightings, the woods held their own treasures. We were treated to close-up views of a couple of Hermit Thrushes and watched a pair of Bald Eagles working together to build their nest high in the trees on the nearby island. However, the true spectacle of the morning came from a massive flock of roughly 750 Common Grackles. The group watched in awe as the birds swirled through the trees, filling the branches before dropping en masse to the forest floor to forage. Every few moments, they would spook and rise up in a chaotic cloud before settling again—a behavior that elicited plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” from our group. In total, we tallied 35 species on what turned out to be a memorable, snowy morning on the river.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S294738044