Hi Folks,

I took advantage of the fact that my 69 calculus students were off taking
their advanced placement exams today, so without students I was able to
re-arrange my schedule to take an early lunch, which consisted of a
mid-morning walk along the Middle Patuxent River at the end of Eden Brook
Drive near the village of Kings Contrivance, south of Columbia, Howard Co.
This was my first woodland walk of the Spring, so I had a lot of
re-acquainting to do with all the songs.  Of most interest were:

Red-shouldered Hawk--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Barred Owl--pair responded to my calls
Pileated Woodpecker--also responded to my owl calls
Red-eyed Vireo--3
BG Gnatcatcher--3
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--1
Wood Thrush--numerous
N. Parula--4
Yellow-rumped Warbler--1
Black-throated Green Warbler--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
Ovenbird--5
La. Waterthrush--1
Hooded Warbler--1

After getting home from work, Elaine and I spent some time in our Glen
Burnie yard (AA Co.) watching the skies.  Yesterday we erected a new
platform for watching birds--its called a hammock.  Today, while on our new
viewing platform, we watched 4 Barn Swallows, 3 Tree Swallows, and 2 Chimney
Swifts fly over, and a new yard bird for us, an E. KINGBIRD flying over,
northbound, of course.  Also in our yard today, Elaine noted two Gray
Catbirds on the suet feeder, and we now have two male House Wrens setting up
territories at opposite corners of our square acre, with nests being built
in the nest boxes at each corner.  The most unexpected find for the day was
made by Elaine this a.m., a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH still beeping around the
yard (our last sighting had been on Sat., 4/29).

Hope you all are enjoying the weather.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie