The Crisfield Christmas Count will be held on Monday, December 
27th.    There are plenty of good places that will go uncovered, so if you 
are looking to experience a count in a different part of the state, please 
contact this year's compiler, Charlie Vaughn, who can be reached at 
410-742-7221 or  Free housing is available the night 
before the count at Irish Grove Sanctuary.  Someone with a small boat or 
canoe could have a lot of fun counting birds on some of the tidewater in 
the circle.

Afterwards, there will be a delicious and bountiful complementary 
compilation dinner at my house (address below) prepared by my son Karl and 
his wife Stephanie. To get to this address, take the first exit on the 
northbound Salisbury bypass (Rt 13).  This is Rt 513, St Lukes Rd.  Exit 
there and take the RIGHT fork of the ramp so that you are heading southeast 
on St Lukes Road.  Turn LEFT on Jackson Road off St. Lukes Road. This is 
immediately after the end of the ramp (about 10 yards) from Rt. 13, so be 
careful not to miss it.  Go 1.2 miles on Jackson Road and turn RIGHT on 
Deer Harbour Road.  Go 0.1 miles and turn RIGHT on Devonshire.  Go 0.8 
miles on Devonshire.  We are the 6th house on the left after Five Friars 
Drive.  The TALLY UP sign will be prominently displayed.

Just to get some bird sightings in: there is a PHOEBE roosting in my holly 
tree and feeding around the yard every day.  Also, there are 2 RED-BREASTED 
NUTHATCHES coming to the feeder, but no purple finches or siskins.  Two 
days ago, I was in my 2nd floor office and heard a WINTER WREN calling.  I 
looked out the window and saw the little fellow feeding in the gutter of my 
garage roof, about 12 feet off the ground, and not in the woods. I 
wondering if anyone has ever seen a winter wren higher off the ground than 
this?
Paul Bystrak

3709 Devonshire Drive
Salisbury, MD 21804
410-572-9950
443-783-1268 (cell)