When I first arrived at the Little Patuxent Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve this 
morning, I heard a pair of Wood Ducks flush. I followed them as they flew into 
the trees at the northeast corner of the lake. I made my way down to lake 
level and watched the male for quite some time. Although I saw the female fly 
into the same area, I couldn't find her in my bins. The male seemed to be 
gently calling to her as he looked around for her, too.

Here's what I saw this morning?

Pied-billed Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan #960
Wood Duck (at least 9 pairs)
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Bald Eagle (1 adult, 1 imm)
American Coot
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird

and others at home in Russett:
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Recently, I've received several requests for directions to the Little Patuxent 
Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve. I thought I'd share them with everyone and 
invite you all to visit it.

Using an online program like MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com/) 
click "Directions"
fill in the "start" portion with your address
fill in the "end" portion with "Oxbow Pl & Lost Creek Blvd, Laurel, MD 20724"
 
before you reach Lost Creek Blvd, you'll cross the 1st speed hump and then a 
pedestrian crossing
at the pedestrian crossing, look to your left for the entrance into the preserve
cross a 2nd speed hump and then do a u-turn at Lost Creek Blvd
park on the side of the street at the entrance of the preserve
 
In this picture (http://www.russett.org/about/amenities/inspection.html), the 
southern cove is on the right. Where you park and first enter, is at the top of 
the picture (east).

Please email me offline for information about the trails around the Oxbow.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD