We were unpacking from a wonderful trip to Worcester for 
the Demarva Birding Weekend, where we got our Prothonotary 
Warber fix; saw most of the birds we hoped for and a few we 
didn't expect (Merlins on two different trips!).    A neighbor stopped 
by to say he had seen this "really strange bird, something like an Ibis," 
on the lawn of the Cahill Recreation Center nearby.  He figured it had 
been there at least an hour, when he'd driven past in both directions.  
We drove down and parked across the street from the recreation center, 
where a Yellow-crowned Night Heron was hunting in the soggy lawn, 
and saw it strike and pull up an earthworm.  We saw four more strikes 
while we watched, and each time, as cars went past, it gave the impression 
it was eating something, after which it would shake its head.   Paul has 
brought home some reference books on herons, and we had not found 
earthworms mentioned.  Another neighbor more familiar with YCHN  
told us previously that he's seen them at the recreation center in the past.  

Elise Kreiss
Baltimore City