On Saturday I participated in the Washington DC Christmas Count. In the morning I was with John Bjerke, Jack Schultz, and Helen Kavanagh at Oxon Hill Farm in Prince George's County. Highlights there were a Phoebe plus a Laughing Gull and a couple cormorants in Oxon Cove. In the afternoon I covered Anacostia Park where I found one more Laughing Gull and at least 36 more cormorants. Highlights were an Orange-crowned Warbler and two Baltimore Orioles in a mixed flock feeding along the edge of the river.
   On Sunday I did the St. Michaels CBC at the Jean Ellen Dupont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary with David Curson and party. Our best birds were an Eared Grebe on Leadenham Creek and the only Fox Sparrow of the count. Reported by others at the tally were a Clay-colored Sparrow by Scott Weidensaul (also at the JEDS sanctuary), a Yellow Palm Warbler, two Ospreys, and an immature Golden Eagle. Two immature Golden Eagles had been seen at the sanctuary the day before.
   Both days the passerine birding was rather slow with low numbers of many species. Waterfowl numbers were also low.
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Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD