A great day to get out atlassing, with spring-like weather giving the lie to the
summer season--the Hereford NW quadrant , specifically. Steve Sanford
met me at the Cedar Grove Church, along Rte. 137 at 0830 and we were
at it til 1500, with about a 40 min. lunch break at a funky country store at
the intersection of Rte's 137 & 25 (Falls Rd. extended). The grand total
came to 54 spp., incl. 8 warblers. Some highlights follow:

Willow Flycatcher & Blk. Vulture (from sublime to ridiculous); both were
                                                    apparently on territory (T)
Nesting Purple Martins & young (CO)

Also on territory: WE Warbler, Yellow W, Ovenbird, Pine W, & possible
                                                     Chat.
A Common Yellowthroat was obviously involved in distraction display(DD)

Numerous Prairie Warblers were singing their hearts out, with the added
                                       burden of one feeding a recently fledged Cowbird
Steve detected the chip of a KY Warbler. We both got good looks at the
female and he saw where it apparently dropped down out of sight. I went
off-trail, carefully picking my way through the underbrush til I flushed a bird
at my feet. A careful look revealed a nest with 4 reddish speckled eggs. The
                   question: is that on nest (ON) or nest with eggs (NE)?

After observing a young Cardinal begging for food (FL), we had one more
neat moment: A Scarlet Tanager feeding it's fledgling (FY)--a 1st for both.

Paul Noell
Balto., MD
myconutATverizonDOTnet