Yesterday, 1-15-05, was the Carroll County Winter Bird Count.  Dave Smith and I covered the northwest third of the county.  Highlights in our territory were:  5 Great Blue Herons, 7 Pintail and 4 Ring-necked Ducks on a farm pond, lots of raptors including 1 Sharp-shin, 1 Cooper's, 1 Red-shoulder, 60 Red-tails, and 11 Kestrels, 7 Snipe at the New Windsor wetlands, no gulls, 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers in four locations, about 100 Horned Larks in two locations, a flock of 7 Myrtle Warblers, and lots of sparrows including 9 Tree, 2 Savannah, and 74 White-crowned.  On the down side:  nothing interesting with the larks, no Short-eared Owls at the traditional spot, and very low numbers of chickadees.
   If anyone would like to join me two weeks from today I cover the adjacent territory for the Frederick County Winter Count.  The habitat is similar.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD