The Patuxent Bird Club/PG Audubon Society had a joint field trip with Southern 
Maryland Audubon Society to a few locations along the Patuxent River.  
Highlights were great views of an adult White-crowned Sparrow at Merkle, a 
group of 28 Tundra Swans at Mount Calvert, and Northern Pintails and a Red-
breast Merganser at Jug Bay.  Other birds included Purple Martins and a 
Chipping Sparrow at Merkle, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked 
Ducks and countless Tree Swallows over Jug Bay.  Ospreys were setting up 
nests and fishing the waters.

But, after the field trip, I stopped by Schoolhouse Pond on my way to a 
meeting, and was amazed at the birds that had dropped in over night.  The 
highlight was a group of five Horned Grebes.  The grebes were in a bewildering 
aray of plumages and molts, from winter to almost full breeding.  Also present 
were 7 Buffleheads, 2 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Gadwall, 5 Shovelers, 2 Pied-billed 
Grebes, and 2 Coots.  These were my first Horned Grebes at the pond in 
several years, and my largest group ever.  Three of the Horned Grebes flew 
off, but two were still there when I left.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS