In response to Tom Fry's query:

This is not real recent, but when I and others covered the Polo Grounds 
along Hughes Rd. last Sunday (12/19) for the Seneca Christmas Bird Count, 
there were around 140 American Pipits, 40 Horned Larks and a single Lapland 
Longspur, in with the larks, on the short grass playing fields.  It's been 
almost a week, but I see no reason why these birds shouldn't still be 
around.  They do fly around a lot, so be patient.

Probably someone from Sedona, AZ, has no need to look for a Sandhill Crane 
|-O , but the young crane first seen about a month ago near the Poolesville 
Golf Course was still around last Sunday.  I haven't seen any more recent 
reports, but it could still be in the same location -- on the east side of 
West Willard Rd., about 1/4-mile north of the golf course entrance, 
possibly right behind a house that is undergoing rebuilding.  That's about 
a mile south of Poolesville.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club, MOS



At 08:20 AM 12/24/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi everyone--
>
>Looking forward to my MD arrival on Thursday, I was wondering if there was
>any recent intelligence on whether the Lapland Longspurs have hung around
>the Hughes Road area. Also curious about any late-breaking reports of
>Snowy and/or Short-eared Owl, as well as Snow Bunting.
>
>I'm heading up to Flagstaff, AZ today to chase a reported flock of Pine
>Grosbeaks. We seem to be having quite the irruption this year and this'd
>be a lifer. Pretty smokin' state bird, too.
>
>Finally, and I know this a longshot, is there anyone on the list with
>experience birding in Mongolia? Looks like I'm headed there in March for
>what could be a very long stay.
>
>Tom Fry
>tomfry at esedona.net

D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: