One of my favorite things about birding is when the ordinary turns into 
the extraordinary (at least from a personal perspective).  Late this 
afternoon I was surprised by the unexpected drop-in to my yard by 4 
Mallards (3 males and a female).  I have had Mallard yard flyovers 
before but never one actually in the yard.  At only about an 1/8 of an 
acre and fences on 3 sides, my yard is not exactly a waterfowl magnet.  
The female proceeded to "chow down" underneath the sunflower/peanut 
feeder for about 10 minutes but the males just stood near not feeding 
and looking very alert.  They all left and then came back a second time 
just before dark.  Also in the yard today was my first Blue-headed Vireo 
of the year.

Stopped by the South Germantown Rec. Park (the Soccerplex) today to 
check the small pond for shorebirds.  Only Killdeer and Spotted 
Sandpiper.  Other interesting birds near the pond included E. Meadowlark 
and Horned Lark.

Yesterday morning at Hughes Hollow, Jim Green and I blanked on Sora and 
VA Rail but had nice views of Yellow, Prothonotary and Palm Warbler and 
an Orchard Oriole.  A Common Yellowthroat was seen along Sycamore 
Landing Rd. and a Prairie Warbler was heard near the intersection of 
Hughes and River Rds.

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg