The PG Mid-winter Count despite snow all afternoon turned out to be 
surprisingly good, at least that part of it we did - Merkle WMA and 
Milltown Landing WMA. The snowfall, if anything, brought the birds out 
of hiding and stimulated activity.

At Merkle we recovered the Ross' Goose in a remote cornfield, while at 
the Visitors Center feeders saw a 1st year male Baltimore Oriole, first 
seen earlier today by the interns who work there. Here is a partial list 
of birds seen:
Canada Goose	2,250
ROSS' GOOSE	1
Green-w Teal	2 (ponds nr VC)
Gadwall		24	"
Ring-neck Duck	5	"
C. Merganser	2  (on river)
Red-br Merg	2       "
Ruddy Duck	1       "
A. Coot		1  (pond at VC)	
E. Phoebe	1
Winter Wren 	1
W-br Nuthatch	5
BROWN THRASHER	1
Cedar Waxwing 	12
Myrtle Warbler	0
Wh-thr Sparrow	115
WH-CR SPARROW	1
BALTO ORIOLE	1
RUSTY BLACKBIRD	2
E. MEADOWLARK	3

At Milltown Landing were also these:
N.Harrier ad.m.	1
Sav. Sparrow	48
A. TREE SPARROW	2
WH-CR SPARROW	2
An ad. Bald Eagle flying home thru the snow as daylight faded was a nice 
end to the day for species # 61.

-- 
Fred and Jane Fallon
Bowie MD