This morning I was able to sneak out for some serious birding, and my first stop was Lake Needwood, off Avery Road (off Muncaster Mill Rd). I arrived at 8:30, went to the hiking trail parking lot, and (following Gail MacKiernan's "Rule of the Ridge", I birded the ridge on the west of the large field at the hiking trail head. Bingo! I saw large numbers of warblers, mostly Black-throated Greens, Chestnut-sided, and Red-eyed Vireos. Less abundant were American Redstarts and some Common Yellowthroats. There was also a single Nashville Warbler. A couple of young-of-the-year Chipping Sparrows had me grabbing my binoculars with high hopes for something new and wonderful, but I think Chipping Sparrows are neat anytime. Further into the woods a Wood Thrush was about. Also evident were some phoebes, catbirds, chickadees, titmice and cardinals. There was a lot of action for about an hour. When things slowed down, I went to the Agricultural History Farm Park, off of Muncaster Road. The willows along the stream on the way in were absolutely dead. I soon found out why - a Cooper's Hawk was scaring everybody to death! Since things were not going to liven up for a while, I proceeded further into the park and hiked to the top of the grassy hill that is on the other side of the stream (there is a 'path' across the stream, but a beaver has decided that this is a good place for a dam!). On the way up I saw two Eastern Meadowlarks and heard some sparrow-like chipping from the grass. I glimpsed one of the sparrows and it might have been a Field Sparrow, but no guarantees. I then spent the afternoon working in the courtyard of my daughter's elementary school. I saw a single Broad-winged Hawk, heading for the Blue Ridge, I imagine. Finally, a Common Nighthawk just flew over my house a few minutes ago. Today was a fine change from the little I have seen on the Mall so far this fall! Jim Jim Felley Smithsonian Institution irmss668@sivm.si.edu