This morning I birded at the McKeldin Area in southeast Carroll
County, along the South and North Branches of the Patapsco River.
Windy weather kept the small birds well hidden, especially the
little-brown-job (LBJ) type sparrows - the only one seen or heard
was White-throated.

Best bird observed sounded like a Horned Lark - but the habitat
was way wrong.  Soon after I heard the alarm call of a Winter
Wren (WIWR).  On checking the Thayer recordings when I got home,
I realized I had heard a singing WIWR for the first time.

Heard a White-breasted Nuthatch revert from a normal call several
times to a Red-breasted Nuthatch-like squeak several times while
I was watching it.

Flushed a Great Horned Owl from the pine grove at the Plantation
Trail.  Birdiest trail was the Spring Glen (bluebirds, 2 Pileated
Woodpeckers (pair?), nuthatch, flicker).

22 species in 2.5 hrs, 3 habitats (riparian & upland mixed
forest, grassy areas), 8.8 species/hr - typical for me in winter
in windy weather.

Bill Ellis
Eldersburg, MD
billellis at
ellislist dot com