Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery County, Zion Road Section, 2 Jan 06,
0730-0930 

It appears 2006 is the year of aberrant birds.  Yesterday I observed a
leucistic Am. Tree Sparrow and this morning an intergrade Northern
"red-shafted" Flicker along the BMNT.  What will tomorrow bring?

My walk this morning was fairly unproductive and then curtailed by rain.
Best birds were those in the sparrow family to include Eastern Towhee, Am.
Tree, Field, Song, White-throated, White-crowned and Dark-eyed Junco.  Fox
Sparrow, which was common last winter, are conspicuously absent this winter,
seemingly replaced by Am. Tree Sparrow.

Tom Marko
Olney, MD
Montgomery Bird Club
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