I spent most of last week on the annual end-of-school family vacation at 
Herrington Manor State Park. This is not primarily a birding trip, as my wife 
reminded me daily, but it's hard not to see good birds here, and I did manage some 
free time to seek some of Garrett's specialties. The woods around our cabin 
were filled with song from before dawn until after dark, courtesy of Barred 
Owl, Blue-headed Vireo (incessant), Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, 
Magnolia and Blackburnian Warblers, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager and Chipping 
Sparrow.

The following, more notable birds were found at Herrington Manor State Park 
(HMSP), Swallow Falls State Park (SFSP), Garrett State Forest, and in the 
Oakland area. Some of these may be of atlas interest.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - 1, 6/21, Pleasant Valley Road
LEAST FLYCATCHER - 1 daily at HMSP entrance road (same as last year); 1 on 
Combination Road, 6/21
WILLOW FLYCATCHER - 2 on Norris Welch Road, 1 on Pleasant Valley Road, 6/21
PURPLE MARTIN - colony on Joni Miller Road, 6/21
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - 2-3 singing birds in pines near HM/SF trailhead at 
the "big dip" in Herrington Manor Road, Garrett SF, 6/19 and 6/23
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - at least 3 singing males near boat ramp at Herrington 
 Manor Lake, 6/18 (2 males seen in aggressive interaction, 1 female seen 
carrying food); one singing male at trailhead on Herrington Manor Road, 6/23
CANADA WARBLER - 1 singing male in deciduous woods on HM/SF trail, east of 
trailhead on HM Road, 6/23
HENSLOW'S SPARROW - 1 heard only, Combination Road, 6/21 (there were 2 state 
trucks here and a backhoe working in the SW corner of the field, so I didn't 
venture in)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK - 2 singing males at cabin, HMSP, 6/20
BOBOLINK - many locations; good show on Paul Friend Road, 6/21
PURPLE FINCH - 1 singing male, HMSP entrance, 6/21; pair in Oakland, 6/22
PINE SISKIN - 2 in Oakland, 6/21

I looked for the Red-breasted Nuthatches that were in the pines at HMSP last 
year but didn't find them. Red-bellied Woodpeckers seemed unusually numerous 
in the park this year but only one Raven was heard. 80 species for the week.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD