Hi all,
 Some recent sightings from Blue Mash Nature Trail;
 
Friday, April 7, 4-5 PM, a quick walk around on this warm afternoon  produced 
a good variety of hawks: Sharp-shinned, Cooper's , a near adult (white  head 
and tail but still showing white underneath) Bald Eagle, Red-tailed  and 
Red-shouldered. A lone DC Cormorant on a snag in the small pond and  a pair of 
brown Purple Finches as well.
 
Saturday April 8 7:30-10 AM, birding in the rain with umbrella, a good  
variety of birds, including Purple Finches, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers,  
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, White-throated, Swamp, Song and Field Sparrows, Tree, N.  
Rough-winged and Barn Swallows and Purple Martin, A. Black  Duck, Wood  Duck, 
Green-winged Teal, and Mallard, a pair of Kingfishers, Killdeer, R. C.  Kinglet, 
lots of towhees.
 Saw one of the beavers swimming around the far side of the big pond,  in the 
rain, and picked up at least 2 ticks, so far! A pair of very young deer  came 
close to see what I was all about, as I stood perfectly still under my  
umbrella, watching them watching me. Toads are now out and trilling, swimming  and 
mating around the ponds.
 
Atlasing tomorrow!

Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD