Sounds like it was a good thing all the other Marylanders were in shopping malls doing their holiday shopping, or half the posters to this list could have been wiped out in traffic accidents chasing birds all over the county....

After arriving at Black Hill Regional Park just before 11am and meeting Stan Arnold who nicely pointed out where the Eared Grebe had been just before I arrived (among 4 Am. Coots right at the boat dock), it took nearly another hour to find it in the cove directly opposite on the far shore (it must have been hiding among 8 Ring-necked Ducks who made their presence known first).  

Thanks much to Dave Cz. for the excellent pix posted before I left home (it looked like the 1st Fall in Sibley's), since the good light showed the colors in the neck and throat nicely at that distance.

I hope Stan also had good luck in finding the Red-throated Loon where'd I'd seen it yesterday (really, I did) among all those Bufflehead (who were mostly gone today).

As I was looking for the Eared Grebe, a nice American Wigeon dropped in right by the Ring-billed Gulls and American Coots. That made up for the Long-tailed Duck Stan had seen just before I'd arrived, but apparently had moved on.

Also while waiting for the Grebe to re-appear, a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over the Visitor Center.  Shortly after, a Red-shouldered Hawk flew over the lake to the opposite shore, perching in a tree and calling (nice view of its windows).

On my way down to see the alleged S. Crane, I stopped briefly at the overlook on MD 121 (opposite the dam).  In the cove there, another 3 dozen A. Coots, 3 Pied-billed Grebes, 5 Ruddy Ducks were gathered (along with the Ring-necked Ducks).  A Red-tailed Hawk flew in to a tree overlooking the birds (and an Eastern Towhee called from nearby).

I went up and down the road fronting the golf course in search of the Sandhill Crane (probably around 1pm or so), but had no luck, other than seeing half a dozen Turkey Vultures on the ground in the fields to the west of the golf course.

On my way home, I stopped by Hughes Hollow, looking for the Red-headed Woodpeckers I've read about on this list.  No luck for them, again.  Did see:
Great Blue Heron
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker (2)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
Hairy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Northern Flicker (2)
Eastern Bluebird (4)
Yellow-rumped Warbler

At Riley's Lock, C & O Canal (so who was in a hurry to get home on a beautiful day like this?):
Common Loon
Redhead Duck (2)

At Violette's Lock, C & O Canal (there were still probably too many shoppers out there to be on the roads too much):
Bufflehead (17)
Redhead Duck (8)

If anybody sees that S. Crane, or those C. Swallows in the morning, please post, will ya?  I think the malls will still be jammed....

Enjoy the birds! (I did.)
--
Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
Montgomery County