Yesterday evening, in the less than optimal light, we walked a large portion of the Boundary path at the Germantown Soccerplex. I continue to be amazed by the diversity of habitat that is packed into such a compact area in our new neck of the woods. I had set some year goals for observing in Montgomery County, and it looks like most of them will be met by the end of our first month. Anyway, among our list yesterday were:

Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Killdeer
(didn't see the sp plover that we have had for the past week or 2)
Great Blue Heron (flyover)
Wood Thrush
Orchard Oriole. This bird was in a low bush in a gully. I found this to be an odd place for an oriole(?)
and my best of the day, a life Grasshopper Sparrow! I heard a song in 3 different places that I suspected was just such a bird, and was finally able to get one to come out for viewing. It is really cool when a bird you are looking for cooperates!

Ray Wickline
Washington, DC
Germantown, Md