On the very last day of 2005, I got a new yard bird and a new county 
bird in my own county -- a Red-breasted Nuthatch was at my feeder in 
Columbia. I've never managed to get a glimpse of one locally before (the 
only time I'd ever seen an RBNU before was at the MOS conference at Deep 
Creek Lake a few years ago), and here it was, right in front of my eyes 
on my own deck!

It was on the far side of the deck rail at first and I couldn't see it 
very well -- it seemed to be shaped like a nuthatch, but it didn't look 
quite right. When it came up on top of the deck rail I could see what 
was different about it ... it had a black stripe across its eye. Could 
it be...? Then it turned and I could see its breast.... Yes! It was! It 
gave me a great view on the deck and on my suet feeder before it finally 
flew away.

Sherry <-- color me pleased
Howard County