Hi all,
 My first chance to get online, sorry for this late post and thanks to  Norm 
for posting it earlier for me. As I was heading out and back to my van from  
the main gravel road at the Zion Rd entrance to Blue Mash, a Swallow-tailed 
Kite  soared over the entrance, just above the treetops, cruised over the large 
oak  tree there, and continued over towards the power lines before it 
disappeared. I  was hoping it would circle back around and maybe come in over the big 
pond, so I  didn't leave or give chase in my van (in hindsight, maybe I should 
have) I  waited about 20 minutes, and then left. I initially saw it naked-eye, 
but was  quick enough to get my bins on it before it sailed away. My whole 
observation  didn't exceed 10 seconds. it was precisely 11:15 AM. The bird was 
flying  parallel to Zion Rd. and heading due south when I last saw it.
 
Just before this, Ed Patten and I were searching for a Sharp-tailed Sparrow  
which Ed saw early, before I got there. I headed out early to the main 
entrance  on Rt. 108 to see if I could find any snipe (2 in a puddle) and while there 
also  saw 4 E. Meadowlarks, and as many Brown Thrashers. The sparrow would 
have been a  county and state bird, the kite was a county bird only!
 
I did a write-up and drawing for the records committee, which will go in  
Mondays mail. I was hoping someone else might see this bird who was south of my  
location (or even north, earlier).
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD