Since I don't count birds except on count days, you'll have to accept my
narrative style.
    Time 10 AM to 11AM.  Weather very clear, temp in low 50's. Slight
breeze. Ventured out around the lake across the road and then down along
Aspen Run to the North Branch of the Patapsico. This will be the new
spelling so that Baltimoreans won't be mispronouncing it any more.
    Plenty of singing the whole way. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice and a
variety of SPARROWS - chipping, song, field and white throat most prominent.
The lake was bare but for a handfull of local geese and -what's this? A late
RINGNECKED DUCK. He's a couple days behind the rest. He apparently didn't
get my memo that duck migation ended Sunday.
    OSPREY number 3 for the year was being harrassed by crows. When they
called I was surprised they were American. I would think it would be more in
a fish crow's interest to harrass the Osprey. Later I had them bothering a
RED SHOULDER on the far side of the lake and near the end of the walk, a RED
TAIL. I guess they'll take on anything.
    Down along the creek, caught sight of 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS flying off
thru the woods. That many around here at once is rare. Seldom see more than
one or two at a time. Wouldn't a new colony be nice?
    Then on to the larger creek something hopped around in the leaves
feeding. A towhee? Nope HERMIT THRUSH. Hopped up for a nice view. Wish he
would sing. Nuthatches called overhead. Then a strange song interrupted.
Somewhat familiar, but definitely not anything I usually hear. Spot a very
small bird flitting along the trees at the edge. Bins up, I find the
singer - a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Nice - they seldom sing as they head north.
Further down stream I can hear a more familiar song - LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH.
First of the year. A BELTED KINGFISHER rattled his way up the creek.
    Plenty of song from some CAROLINA WRENS across the stream. Then on the
way back another pleasant surprise. A bird landed on a branch almost right
in front of me. Bins up again - PALM WARBLER! Then something rattles the
leaves to my left - a second. Then something hops onto a low branch to my
right. Happiness ladies & gents, is three of them all within a few feet of
me and acting very nonchalant about my presence.
    On the way back, another kinglet hops along in the trees along the lake.
This one is worth mentioning  because he popped his crown up for me. If
you've never seen it, that's another treat. In the bush at the other end of
the lake I found another nice treat - BROWN THRASHER. Not singing, but
watching me carefully.
    Then the final leg back toward the house from the creek at the far north
end of the field next to the lake, two sparrows fly across in front of me
after I spooked them off the ground to my right. I had to study them and
then verify my suspicions at the house when I got back. Bonnie Ott would be
proud of me for getting it right - SWAMP SPARROWS. I was somewhat confused
by the slight grey spot in the middle of the chest ala tree sparrow, but the
photos in Thayer show one like that. Trees don't have the white throat.
    Also had both TREE SWALLOW and BARN SWALLOW.
    Nice day for a walk and the birds were very cooperative.
    Jerry Tarbell
    Carroll County