Paul Woodward wrote:

>Andy,
>       This is not a good winter for red-headed wps at Hughes Hollow.  I
>haven't seen any on my winter counts.  When I checked their main wintering
>and nesting area the end  of October I didn't locate any either.
>      It is not surprising that red-heads aren't here because the acorn crop
>was poor this fall which is also the reason Blue Jays and Gray Squirrels are
>scarce.
>      In the past Red-headed Woodpeckers were common at Hughes Hollow every
>third year, so it was unusual they were common the past two winters.
>      This will be a good chance to determine their arrival dates this
>spring.
>
>Paul Woodward
>Fairfax City, VA 22032
>
>
>  
>
Thanks for the info Paul.  I really just started birding hard in the 
last few years.  Since I have seen them there on numerous occasions over 
the past 2 winters, I assumed they were just part of the normal winter 
avifauna at Hughes Hollow.

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg