During the Sugarloaf count today, we saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER along the 
C&O Canal, immediately north of Noland's Ferry Rd (Frederick Co). It was 
high in a deciduous tree, with a flock of chickadees and kinglets. We 
watched it for 2 or 3 minutes, while it flitted about a fairly small 
area, and then it flew further north. We did no relocate it. (And soon 
the rains came.)

Claire Wolfe, the experienced California birder who spotted it, started 
by saying, "If I were in California, I would say this is a Townsend's 
Warbler." With us was Jeff Gould, who had seen "hundreds of Townsend's" 
this past fall while he was taking part in migration studies in New 
Mexico. Even I had seen several Townsend's in Mexico a few weeks back.

The bird had a striking yellow breast, black throat, strong facial 
pattern with yellow supercilium, striped flanks, spotted vent. We saw it 
from below, so could not see wing bars. It did not vocalize. (We wrote 
it up for the count compiler.)

I hope some other folks will have a chance to look for it.

Lydia Schindler
Darnestown