Paul and I have had little joy trying to get a "probable"
Atlas tick for YCNH seen several times in our Atlas block
near or in Leakin Park during safe dates.   They are known
to nest elsewhere near the Gwynns Falls.   Kenn Kaufman
writes, "Often nest in isolated pairs or in very small groups,
especially in northern part of range."  Nevertheless, they
went down as "O," for observed, pending location of a colony.
Frustrating!   Today, however, we came across a small colony
which includes four nests, two of which had a pair of herons,
one of which had a single heron.   With the trees still so bare,
the nests and birds can be easily seen in the large, silvery
sycamore which accommodates all of them.  The best view is
from across Windsor Mill Road in the Leakin Park trail head
parking lot by the Gwynns Falls.   Stand by the pedestrian
crosswalk and scan the tree - - you can't miss 'em.   Although
we probably managed to do so for the first two Atlas years.  . .!

Elise Kreiss
Baltimore City

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