I had a nice morning walk around Schoolhouse Pond today (10/1).  The crisp
cool weather seemed to bring some migrants in.  Highlights were a group of
birds in the tree/shrub line on the far side of the pond, between the
boardwalk and the townhouses.  This area is frequently birdy at first
light, as it is the area of trees catching the first sunlight of the day.

Highlights included a group of warblers.  I got close views of a first
winter Orange-crowned Warbler, as well as a female Magnolia Warbler, and
four Common Yellowthroats.  Another bird nearby was an inquisitive Marsh
Wren in the cattails.

Other birds present included 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Great Egret, 2 Green
Herons, numerous Wood Ducks, Mallards, and Canada Geese, 2 Double Crested
Cormorants, Northern Flickers, 1 Red Bellied Woodpecker, 2 Downy
Woodpeckers, Catbirds, Cardinals, Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, White-breasted
Nuthatch, and a small number of flyover Herring, Laughing, and Ring-billed
Gulls.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS