Brian Sykes called me on Friday, 7/21, to report an interesting morning at 
the Halethorpe Ponds in Baltimore County. He'd had at least 7 LEAST TERNS in 
sight at once, plus one CASPIAN TERN. He also reported two medium-sized terns, 
one of which he thought was a COMMON TERN. The other he described as having very 
long tail streamers. With tropical storm Beryl off the east coast, nothing is 
really out of the question. I wasn't able to get down to the ponds until 
Friday evening, when the only terns I saw were 3 Least. But I will get more 
details from Brian, who also shot some photos which may reveal the bird's identity.

Brian also reported an immature LITTLE BLUE HERON that morning and the 
continuing pair of GLOSSY IBIS. He's also been monitoring numerous fledglings, 
including KILLDEER.

Some of the birds from my quick circuit Friday evening:

Great Blue Heron - 3
Great Egret - 1
Snowy Egret - 1
Green Heron - 1
BC Night-Heron - 2
American Coot - 1, flightless, been there for months
Killdeer - 1 adult
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 basic plumage
Least Tern - 3
RT Hummingbird - 4, really enjoying the trumpet vines
Acadian Flycatcher - 3
Eastern Kingbird - 2
RE Vireo - 1 singing
Fish Crow ~ 120
Purple Martin ~ 30 on the wires & over the ponds, many juveniles
RW Swallow - 6
Cliff Swallow - 1
Barn Swallow ~ 20
E Bluebird - 1
Yellow Warbler - 3 still singing
Common Yellowthroat - 4
Song Sparrow - 5 singing
Blue Grosbeak - 1 calling
Indigo Bunting - 3 singing
Common Grackle - 1,000+ flying to roost at dusk
Orchard Oriole - 9 including 2 family groups; no adult males

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD