Late Sunday afternoon, Paul and I were happy that
we'd found a sort of "back door" to watching the Windsor Mill
Road (Leakin Park) herons from much higher ground on Talbot
Road.  We can see through the trees with a scope to look across,
and to some extent, down on four of the five active nests.
We're hoping to get a earlier views of young this way.  As was true
last year, the lowest nest is least obscured by branches.  That nest
is also the easiest one  to see from this alternate view.

Anyway, at that point we saw the first of 3 small kettles of mixed
Broadwings and Turkey Vultures we were to see that afternoon;
as I recall five Broadwings and four Vultures with very good views.
We saw a small kettle further on when walking down Weatheredsville
Road, and then a kettle of several Turkey Vultures and up to 17
Broadwings.

Misc. Migrants

Last Saturday (4/9), Bluegray Gnatcatchers were in Leakin Park
in numbers; Phoebes, and the Rough-winged Swallows were there.
No warblers were seen.  This Sunday, we had Barn Swallows in
the Park as well; still no warblers.

At home, we have been getting Chipping Sparrows
at the feeder since last weekend; still lots of White-throats,
and one Junco was seen this weekend.  We had an atypical
(but not unprecedented) Swamp Sparrow under the niger feeder.
This morning I heard my first NORTHERN PARULA of the year
in the yard.  Also, Paul noted the return of our HOUSE WREN on
Friday, April 15; and it is now seriously setting up territory.

Elise Kreiss
Baltimore City