I haven't seen any postings on the WASH county L-Shrike recently, so I
decided to see if it was still at the last reported location (on Shaffer
road 1.0 or 1.2 miles east of the intersection with Dam #4 road.  I made
several passes all along Shaffer without any luck.  Resuming my trip to
Hagerstown, I exited the area on the roads that border Shaffer to the north
(Bakserville & Fairview-?), but also with no luck.  I noticed that there has
been some disturbance to the vegetation along the section of Shaffer where
the Shrike was first sighted.  A hedgerow was demolished and it appears that
a new fencing has been installed.  Perhaps this disturbance was enough to
cause the bird to move on.

On a brighter note, I observed the "local" Merlin cruising the skies this
afternoon near the intersection of MD 383, Catholic Church and Picnic Woods
roads.  I reported on a Merlin here (S Frederick county) last winter.  

Finally, back to Shrikes.  There was a suspicious bird perched in a tree
along & southside on MD 383 westbound (Broad Run Road) just where the road
begins to dip toward the Catoctin Creek ravine.  I'll try to check it out
tomorrow with bins.  More than likely it is NOT a Shrike, but I'm posting in
case someone local to the area wants to take a look.

Jim Speicher
Jspeicher-at-niaid.nih.gov
Rockville @work :(
Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)