Hi all,
 My college daughter and I were at Blue Mash this morning also, her to  
botanize and make collections for a class, and I to trim the trail to the big  pond 
and do some scouting for my MBC trip tomorrow.
 
Pretty active early along the entrance road, having a pair of Blackpolls in  
the trees on the road, Brown Thrasher, catbirds, phoebes, etc. As we were 
making  our way along the small path towards the big pond, I was ahead and 
clipping  goldenrods, while Alli was just behind me. She saw a bird down low to our 
left  which made its way into the base of an overgrown rose bush at the base of 
a  small cedar. The light was bad, but I got enough of a glimpse to know it 
was  more than just a yellowthroat. Another few glimpses and my call was 
Connecticut  Warbler. Both the bird and the 2 of us went into skulking mode. The 
bird slowly  made its way to the top far side of the small cedar, and then flew 
off into the  sun, but not far. I went back to the far side of the trail and 
waited. Alli  joined me and we waited, talking in whispers about what we had 
seen. Eventually  the bird popped back up and climbed a very small tulip tree, 
giving us very  satisfying looks of an adult female CONNECTICUT WARBLER.
 The bird made its way up into the branches and then flew off  across the 
road into the corner of the park right where the main trail begins.  We looked 
some more but could not relocate it, but it may still be around there  (lots of 
very good habitat).
 
We then resumed cutting the trials, and the big pond held 5 Pectoral  
Sandpipers, 1 small peep (didn't have my scope), Great Egret, Great Blue Heron,  and 
late Green Heron, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Mallards, and Tree Swallows  
and Chimney Swifts overhead.
 
Other birds of interest; American Kestrel, Osprey, Sharp-shinned  Hawk, 
Red-shouldered Hawk, a number of harriers including a male, Scarlet  Tanager, lots 
of Killdeer. Cedar Waxwings and Bluebirds were also arounds, as  were 
Brown-headed Cowbirds, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Palm Warbler and  Yellowthroats. 
Woodpeckers were Downy Red-bellied and Northern Flicker. Lots of  American Crows were 
seen, one with white in the wings making it look sort of  like a Pileated 
Woodpecker.
 
I still have a couple of spaces on tomorrows trip, first come-first served.  
Call me at home, though not too late as we are going to Baltimore for dinner.  
Cell 301-502-0018, home 301 774-1185.
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD