We had planned to start our Rock Creek birding today but got a very late start when two of our dogs (including out 11-year-old who should know better) dug under the fence (after deer?) and escaped the yard. The 5-year-old came right back but we had to spend about 30 minutes in the dark before we found the old gal, who looked appropriately guilty.

Having missed first light, we decided to go out to Lilypons and vicinity, which proved a good choice. Not too many passerines in yet but we scored well on water birds and a few early migrants:

1 AMERICAN BITTERN, seen well and close
1 Little Green Heron
1 Great Egret
(also a number of Great Blue Heron nests over the Monocacy above the Lilypons bridge)
over 50 Wilson's Snipe (!) -- we had flocks of 12 or so flushing and flying around, really a remarkable sight.
1 SORA (heard only)
1 Coot
2 Blue-winged Teal
1 Eastern Phoebe
2-3 Common Yellowthroats
2 White-eyed Vireos
2 Brown Thrashers
scores of Purple Martins at the nest boxes, as well as Tree, Rough-winged and Barn Swallows
a smattering of Gnatcatchers and R-C Kinglets

Driving down to Nolan's Ferry, a number of American Kestrels along New Design Rd. (at the nestboxes)

Nolan's Ferry -- a short walk yielded great looks at a perched Barred Owl and 3 Rusty Blackbirds harrassing it, otherwise pretty quiet except for 1 Parula and a number of Myrtle Warblers singing.

Happy Easter!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD