Hi all,
 I stopped very briefly at Layhill Park yesterday AM, and seeing a  field 
trip in progress at the near-end of the north field, I headed the other  way. I 
walked around the parking lot, and along the stream, behind the ball  fields 
and back to my van. A few nice finds were a singing Warbling Vireo in the  
sycamores by the stream, and an obvious migrant GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, seen  preening 
in a low tree, then it flushed and ran along the ground until well  hidden. 
It took me many long moments, and I had to flush it two more times  before I 
got convincing looks at it. A very brightly marked bird, but it did not  utter a 
peep. I left it hiding under cover of some scrubby roots, weeds, etc.  behind 
the ball field's backdrop and the stream, not far from the first parking  
lot. Not particularly good Grasshopper Sparrow habitat, and the only one I've  
ever seen at this small park.
 
I also saw at least a pair of Dark-eyed Juncos.
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
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