My Garrett County atlas block (Bittinger NW) is still producing new birds 
and is now approaching the total count of the last atlas (72 now vs. 74 
then).  The most productive location in the block continues to be the area 
along the south branch of the Casselman River (which is really more like a 
creek) near the intersection of Maynardier Ridge Rd and Bear Hill Rd east 
of Bittinger.  On Saturday morning, I found Brown Creepers in the woods 
there and confirmed Black-throated Blue Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and 
cowbird.  Sunday morning, a Belted Kingfisher rattled along the river.  
Farther up Bear Hill Rd, near a power line cut, flyover Common Ravens 
provided another pleasant surprise on Saturday.

The kingfisher, creeper, raven, and cowbird were new species for the 
block, as were Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher, Veery, and House Finch.  (You have to love an atlas block
where finding a Chestnut-sided or Black-throated Green Warbler is
almost trivial and a House Finch is hard.)

A few species of note outside the atlas block included:

- American Kestrel, on 495, just north of Fire Clay Rd, 7/2
- Spotted Sandpiper, east end of W. Old Morgantown Rd, 7/2
- Least Flycatcher, just a stone's throw outside my atlas
    block on Frank Brenneman Rd, between 495 and New Germany Rd, 7/2
- Cliff Swallows, Maple Grove Rd, between 495 and river, 7/2
- Vesper Sparrow, singing on River Rd north of Grantsville, 7/3

John Hubbell
Washington DC