Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
District of Columbia · Northeast
Easy
April-July
Free
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
About This Location
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is the only national park devoted to water-loving plants, featuring historic ponds filled with lotus and water lilies along the Anacostia River in northeast DC. The gardens and adjacent Kenilworth Marsh create a unique birding habitat within the city.
The marsh is DC's largest remaining tidal freshwater marsh and hosts breeding Least Bitterns, Green Herons, and Wood Ducks. In spring, the willow and buttonbush thickets around the ponds attract migrant warblers, while the open marsh hosts rails and marsh wrens. The lotus ponds themselves attract unusual visitors — American Bitterns have been found lurking among the lotus stems, and the flowering plants draw hummingbirds and butterflies. The River Trail connects to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail for extended birding.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Least Tern
Sternula antillarum
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Dickcissel
Spiza americana
Northern Harrier
Circus hudsonius
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mourning Dove
American Robin
House Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Orchard Oriole
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Northern House Wren
Common Grackle
Cooper's Hawk
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Birding Tips
- 1
The River Trail to Kenilworth Marsh is the most productive birding route — look for bitterns and rails
- 2
Lotus and water lily blooms peak in July-August, but spring is best for bird diversity
- 3
Mosquitoes can be intense near the marsh in summer — bring repellent
- 4
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 5
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
- National Arboretum
More in District of Columbia
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C&O Canal - Fletcher's Cove (Fletcher's Boathouse)
Coastal birding hotspot in District of Columbia with 208 recorded species.
East Potomac Park - Hains Point
Urban Park birding hotspot in District of Columbia with 266 recorded species.
District of Columbia Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in District of Columbia →