A good rule of thumb for birders: if you notice crows kicking up a fuss, 
investigate!

Checking out the local corvid commotion enabled me to add Common Raven to my 
yard list this afternoon. I noticed that one of the "crows" at the top of 
the tree was substantially larger than the others, didn't fly off when they 
did, and was making rapid American Crow *and* Fish Crow calls along with 
other strange noises. It had very shaggy throat feathers and, visible as it 
preened itself, long pointed wings and a longish tail. Unfortunately I 
didn't get to see it fly, because (of course) it vanished when I dashed 
inside to get better binoculars.

Whoo-hoo!! Now excuse me while I go reread a certain poem by Edgar Allen 
Poe. You other folks in the area, keep an eye out for this bird.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)

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"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot