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
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Common Yellowthroat (trichas Group)
Geothlypis trichas
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Fish Crow
Wood Duck
Common Merganser
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Northern House Wren
Gray Catbird
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
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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 →