Dear Ospreyers,

Yesterday I came to the Audubon office early at 6:30 and as I drove down Eastern Avenue, on the south side of Patterson Park, an American Bittern appeared over the golden domes of the Ukrainian orthodox church and flew down the middle of the road in front of my car. It then settled among the emerging daffodils on the grass bank opposite our office and stuck its beak in the air (an essential precautionary action when you're in Baltimore with only daffodils for cover!). I got a pretty good view of it as I drove past when I could see the colour and the dark moustachial stripe and striped breast. By the time I had parked my car and dashed back to see it again it had gone, but I can assure you that even though this was early for me I wasn't dreaming!

Dave

David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: