Hi Folks! I was hoping to find something really nifty at Assateague today, but the birding was slow. There was almost nothing dropping in at dawn at Bayside, and only a trickle of birds until 9 AM when everything really quieted down. Hightlights: Mytle Warblers and White-throated Sparrows are in, but not yet in overwhelming numbers. A few Blackpoll, Western Palm, and Cape May added to the warbler variety. I had a single, weakly singing, male Purple Finch and 3 flyover Pine Siskins. The sislkins were nice: #312 for my Annual Maryland List [ties my best year ever]. In the exact same patch of sickly looking oaks where I found one on 2 October 1998, was a Clay-colored Sparrow. To find this spot, park on the island in the State parking lot [near the rotary with the fee shack]. Walk north on the sand/oystershell road [used by National Parks Serbice staff to access the north end of the island] less than 1/4 mile to the conspicuous "Pedestrian Crossing" sign. On the right side of the road, about 100 feet further is a small group of stunted oaks and an oddly shaped small pine. Look in this area, on both sides of the road, or even on the road shoulders. Good Birding! Jim Jim Srasz North Beach MD jlstasz@aol.com