Heard but not seen, today (Saturday, 14 April 2007) near the mansion -
Lousiana Waterthrush. Song and chips.  Hope he makes it through the night.
For those not from this part of Maryland, Sugarloaf is a monadnock in the
northern part of Montgomery County (or maybe over the line in Frederick -
not sure). It is a privately owned park that is open to the public and has
roads that encourage overuse but once you get on the trails, especially
early in the morning, especially the longer trails, you won't see too many
people. 

Also of interest - a Bald Eagle sitting in a tree at the edge of 270,
southbound lanes, before the divided lanes begin. Some very fresh roadkill
in the road. I hoped he wasn't going to try to swoop down on it (yes, eagles
do eat carrion). 

Otherwise, the usual. Sugarloaf is not a very birdy place, in part I suspect
due to the massive deer browse. There is virtually no understory. For the
past several weeks, we've heard and seen Eastern Phoebes. Everyone probably
knows this but there are Ravens up there. Other regulars include Flickers,
Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Brown Creepers, White-breasted Nuthatches,
Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black Vultures.

Good place to go if you want to hike and not bird (e.g., not be distracted
by birds while you are trying to get some exercise, rather than walking at a
birding pace).

Ellen Paul
Tim Boucher
Chevy Chase, MD