I managed to get out for a few hours this morning to see what was happening
at Rockburn Park, Howard County.  Action was a little slow, due to overcast at
sunrise, that lasted until about 0845.  Pretty much all I encountered were
N. Cardinals, E. Towhees, and G. Catbirds.  Towhees were in particular
abundance with 15 between the parking lot by Rockburn Elementary and the
"Haunted House."  Action picked up by about 0800, and went nuts once the
sun came out.  The tally, excluding usual suspects (Am. Robins were quite
abundant, by the way) between the parking lot and Haunted House was:

E. Phoebe - 1
Blue-Headed Vireo - 1
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet - 4
G. Catbird - 8
Brown Thrasher - 1
House Wren - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-Rumped Wabler - 5
Palm Wabler - 1-2 (western/white)
White-Throated Sparrow - 5-6
Swamp Sparrow - 1 (1st winter)

I then ran out to pick up a cholesterol-filled breakfast, and returned to
the Landing Road entrance to consume.  Suitably tanked up with fat and
caffeine, I sallied forth again about 1000, and was greeted by a little
tin horn, higher-pitched, more nasal, and more rapid than a typical White-
Breasted call (which I heard a bit later, on two occassions).  The bird
called three times, but I never located it.  There were numerous white pines
(I think) about.  This as between the pumping station and the parking lot.

Other goodies in the woods were:

Hermit Thrush - 1
E. Bluebird - 3
Scarlet Tanager - 1-2

Sure hope the Sparrow Day went well, and sorry I couldn't join it.  But the
nuthatch was nice compensation.

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo