Having had such a nice walk there two weeks ago, after a late start I 
decided to spend this warm holiday morning back at Blue Mash Nature Trail. 
Again had a nice assortment of birds.

Some of the best birds were a PALM WARBLER (Yellow), a CATBIRD (a rather 
late migrant or a wintering bird) and 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (plus many other 
unidentified blackbirds that could have been Rusties).  Good numbers of both 
KINGLETS and Eastern Bluebirds.

Overall sparrow numbers seemed slightly lower (or it could have been the 
later hour), but juncos are way up.  The highlight of the walk was four FOX 
SPARROWS, when I realized the lovely persistent mystery song I was hearing 
was coming from them.  I've never heard these winter visitors sing before. 
What a great song.  Other sparrows included Field, Swamp (just one), Song, 
White-throated (plenty), and 4 Towhees.

This time I found the larger pond, which I missed last time.  It held 14 
BUFFLEHEAD, 16 HOODED MERGANSERS, and 6 RUDDY DUCKS.

Raptors were present but nothing unusual--2 Red-tails, 1 immature 
Red-shouldered, and a Cooper's Hawk.

Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.net