A perfect day to be at home teleworking!  I think my wish came true for some 
new winter birds from this front yesterday and last night.  This morning was a 
frenzy at the bird feeders, with a flock of bullies [C. grackle (9), RW Blackbird 
(40) and BH Cowbird (32)] getting most of the food.  But hanging tough on 
the fringe was a beautiful Fox Sparrow.  After the hoodlums were satiated and 
left, the sparrows came to feed, and my high count for Wh. Throateds was 
48.  Surprisingly, only 7 juncos, 2 songs, and 1 towhee were seen.

It is comical to watch the fox sparrows at a feeder, they can't seem to just 
pick up seed.  Even when it is on the ground surface right in fronmt of them , 
they still habitually scratch for it.  I liked George Jett's name for the one at his 
feeder - "Scratchy"; it was great to see one today.

The highlight (so far!) was two Horned Grebes on the river directly behind the 
house.  They are very uncommon for me here, not seen annually.  Though 
they probably are here at least annually, you have to be very lucky to be here 
on the one or two times they are present!

I also had my first Lesser Scaup here for the year.

Cheers !!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD