Hi all,
 The Mongomery Bird Club's Big Sit went well yesterday, which proved to be an
absolutely gorgeous day to be out. I arrived before 6 AM to set up signs and
my chair and portable table. By 6:15 I already had about 25 species, some
which we would not hear or see again all day (Common Loon for one). My goal was
60-65 species, with an outside possibility of perhaps 75 species. My last
species came at 5:50 PM with a heard only Belted Kingfisher, # 73, two shy of my
"wish list".  Highlights included both oriole species, Great-crested Flycatcher,
warblers including Palm, Prairie, N. Parula, Ovenbird, C. Yellowthroat,
Yellow, and Yellow-rumped. Also saw 2 Blue-headed Vireos, White-eyed Vireo, and we
did well with raptors with many Red-shouldereds, Red-tailed, many Ospreys, some
fishing right in front of us, a single Broad-winged, a single A. Kestrel, 2-3
Cooper's, and a single Sharp-shinned. My personal favorite bird of the day
was just after MOS president Paul Zucker showed up shortly after 1 PM, with a
"shot-out-of-a-cannon" MERLIN which came barreling up the length of the lake and
zoomed right over our heads, a very handsome heavily streaked bird.

 Though most birds were seen early, almost everyone who came late added
something new to the total. Big misses were Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch,
and Killdeer, all of which should have been seen or heard, but such is the
way of any big day.

Many thanks to all who came out to help yesterday; Tony and Cynthia Mead,
Matt Barr and Andy Pertierra from the ANS Ospreys, Sam Freiberg, Hugh Mahanes,
Mark England, Gemma Radko, Clive Harris, Karen Stewart, Ruth Ann (last name I
forgot, from MDOsprey), and anyone who I may have forgotten, my apologies. Many
thanks to all who pledged; I will be in touch to collect the $ soon. We raised
about $800.00 for the atlas, give or take a few dollars. I will put in
whatever amount it takes to bring us to a nice round number!

Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD


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