Happy New Year!

This morning at Jug Bay (PG side) from my house and in nearby Pax. River 
Park, I found 50 species.  I won't list them all, but some interesting 
ones (for me) included Pied-billed Grebe (1), Northern Pintail (123), 
American Black Duck (110), Tundra Swan (13), Canada Goose (715; no other 
geese seen!), Common Merganser (9), Mallard (34), RTHA (2) RSHA(2), 
Killdeer (26), Wilson's Snipe (5), Belted Kingfisher (2), Hairy Woodpecker 
(2), Cedar Waxwing (31), Gray Catbird (1), Eastern Bluebird (14), Red-
breasted Nuthatch (2), and Savannah Sparrow (3).

I thought I found a Black-capped chickadee.  I have been frustrated trying 
to find this species this season.  This is the fourth time this season I 
think I found one in this vicinity, but I am uncertain.  I hope to get 
video that I can use to confirm it, but am still trying.  Chances are the 
previous birds were only CACH's, but today's bird was really distinct.  I 
heard it calling first, and when I saw it, it was kind of far but it had a 
lot of white in the wings and bright white cheeks.  Its call was loud and 
slow (chick-a-dee dee, chick-a-dee dee dee) which it repeated about every 
minute or so for about 5 minutes.  I tried to get video, but had to go 
back and get my video; when I came back to the location with my video 
camera I could not relocate the bird.  Ugh.

A great morning anyway!

Best regards to all-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD