This morning, Mark Brockway (also from Russett) and I spent about 4 hours at 
the Little Patuxent Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve. One result of last week's rain 
and high winds is that the beaver dams have broken and the lake level is down 
a bit. There is evidence that during the storm the water reached inland about 
20 feet. Quite amazing. As a result of the lower water level, there are mudflats 
exposed which is good for the shore birds.

We watched two Pied-billed Grebes fishing. One of them was quite adept at 
catching fish, swallowing them, and catching more. The 2nd grebe stole one 
away, but the 1st continued fishing.

Here's the list:

Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron (we counted at least 8 at one time)
Great Egret (one showing its long lacy plumes)
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Trumpeter Swan #960
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal (a pair)
Green-winged Teal (a pair)
Ring-necked Duck
Osprey
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Rock Dove
CHIMNEY SWIFT
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle

At home in Russett:
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Mockingbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD