Hi all,
 I spent about an hour at Hughes Hollow (Montgomery County) late this  
morning and found it to be very birdy, with White-throated Sparrows nearly  
everywhere. Also saw Song and Swamps, and Fields, as well as 3 species of wrens  
(House, Winter and Carolina), and all 7 local woodpeckers, with a nice adult  
Red-headed showing in the swampy woods at the end of the gravel cross-road.  There 
was an adult (probably male) MERLIN perched at the top of a snag close to  the 
cross-dike in the second impoundment while I was there, but it was gone by  
the time I walked back to the parking lot. I got excellent close-up looks as it 
 allowed me to walk right by it.
 
Also saw Hermit Thrush, Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Ducks, 2 Pied-billed  Grebes, 
Mallards, and a River Otter feeding out in the main impoundment about  2/3 of 
the way across the main road, on the left. This is the second time I have  
seen otters here.
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD