Had some great birds on the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park 
bike trail in College Park, PG County this morning, despite 
the dreary weather.  Highlights included a RUDDY DUCK
(female) in the golf ponds---my first for the trail in 3+ 
years of observing.  Also some nice year birds, including 
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BROWN CREEPER, and GRAY CATBIRD.
Full eBird report below (note the new feature: you can add 
entries like "buteo sp.").

Good birding!

D

Report Details
Location name:  Paint Branch Stream Valley Park
Observation date:  1/11/06
Duration:  1 hour(s) 20 minute(s)
# of people in birding party:  1
Are you reporting all the species you identified?  Yes
Total # of species:  35
Observation type:  Traveling Count
Start time:  9:00 AM
Distance covered:  2.5 mile(s)
Area covered:  N/A
Weather had a negative effect on my ability to collect birding information:  No

Checklist diary notes:
Cool, misty, overcast, but a great day for birding 
nonetheless. Ruddy Duck (female) was a surprise, on the golf 
ponds with the geese. Other great birds included Sapsucker 
(male & female pair), Hairy (ditto), Creeper, and Catbird. 
Lots of sparrows (hard to count) -- it seems most birds were 
keeping to the ground and bushes today. Lots of squirrels 
around too for some reason, many vocalizing. May have heard 
Belted Kingfisher. I only just learned of the new eBird 
feature of adding entries like "buteo sp." to the checklist; 
I'll be using that from now on as needed.

Species Details
Species Name  Number Reported
Canada Goose  50
Mallard  5
Ruddy Duck  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Buteo sp.  1
Mourning Dove  25
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  2
Downy Woodpecker  5
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  3
Blue Jay  4
American Crow  2
Fish Crow  2
crow sp.  15
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  4
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  2
American Robin  2
Gray Catbird  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  5
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  50
Swamp Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  50
Dark-eyed Junco  40
Northern Cardinal  10
Red-winged Blackbird  3
American Goldfinch  15

-- 
Derek C. Richardson, Ph.D. (CANTAB) ________
Astronomy, U Maryland, College Park MD 20742
Tel: Office 301-405-8786 Fax 301-314-9067 __
Home page: http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/ __