Hi all --

Took the dogs for a walk in upper NW Branch Park, Mont. Co., finding quite a few 
sparrows in this large grassland area. Because we had the dogs and wanted to 
avoid ticks, we didn't go "bush-whacking" into some of the better areas, but 
stuck to the gravel roads. The list would be bigger but the puppy has not 
learned to *not pull* when I am looking at a bird!

Am. Kestrel, (1 male), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Turkey Vulture (15), Black 
Vulture (4), Great Blue Heron (2), Mourning Dove (~25), Downy Woodpecker (2), 
Red-bellied WP (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (2), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Am. Robin (20+ mostly overhead in passage), Eastern Bluebird (4), Blue Jay (~10), Song Sparrow (~25), White-crowned Sparrow (1, immature), Field Sparrow (10), Lincoln's Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (4), unid'd sparrows (30+, probably mostly song and field), Eastern Towhee (2), Cardinal (3), Mockingbird (3-4), Goldfinch (35+), House Finch and Carolina Wren (heard only), Cedar Waxwing (8), Starling (many). 
Odd miss -- White-throated Sparrow.

Anyway, a beautiful walk, trees in full color, even if not too many birds seen.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD