Hi Everyone,
   
  Hans Holbrook and I had an enjoyable and productive day today (4/22) birding from Hughes Hollow to  Weaverton and then back toward Baltimore. Here are some of the day's many highlights:
   
  All Stops: 
  Blue-gray Gnatcatchers--Abundant; rarely out of earshot all day.
   
  Hughes Hollow, Montgomery Co.
  Pied-billed Grebe--2
Great Blue Heron--15
Green Heron--3
Sora--1 (photos)
American Coot--6
Red-headed Woodpecker--2 adults
Myrtle Warbler--1
   
  Sycamore Landing Road, Montgomery Co.
  Yellow-throated Vireo--1
  Common Yellowthroat--2
   
  Near Potomac River in Montgomery Co.
  Spotted Salamander--1 (photos)
   
  Mouth of the Monocacy, Montgomery/Frederick Co.
  Common Merganser--1 hen upriver in Frederick (possible breeder?)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--8 (Fred.)
Golden-crowned Kinglet--3 (Fred.)
Northern Parula--2 (both)
Prothonotary Warbler--1 (Fred.)
Louisiana Waterthrush--1 (Mont.)
Myrtle Warbler--1
Butterflies: Mourning Cloak, Zebra Swallowtail, Eastern Comma, Juvenal's Duskywing
   
  Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co.
  Blue-winged Teal--1-2 pairs
Hooded Merganser--Hen with 13 fledged young (photos)
American Bittern--1 (found earlier by John Hubbell)
Great Egret--1
Broad-winged Hawk--1
Cooper's Hawk--1
Sora--2
Wilson's Snipe--2
Virginia Rail--2
American Coot--3
Purple Martin--20
Swamp Sparrow--5
Herps: Gray Treefrogs calling, Green Frogs, loud chorus of Am. Toads; E. Painted, Red-eared, and C. Snapping Turtles (mating).
   
  Noland's Ferry, Frederick Co.
  House Wren--1
   
  Rte. 28 in Frederick Co.
  Eastern Fox Squirrel--1
   
  Kirschner's Pond, Frederick Co.
  Ruddy Duck--4
American Coot--1
   
  Weaverton, Washington Co.
  Red-breasted Merganser--1 hen
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--5
Louisiana Waterthrush--2-3
Nearby: 1 Chimney Swift
   
  Piney Run Reservoir, Carroll Co.
  Bufflehead--3
Ruddy Duck--8
Greater Scaup--1 hen
scaup sp.--1 drake
Common Loon--5
Red-necked Grebe--1
Common Moorhen--1
Bonaparte's Gull--3
Eastern Kingbird--1
   
  I've posted some fun photos from today, as well as a few from the previous weeks. Enjoy!
   
  http://billhubick.com/new_set.html
   
  (There are also 5 pages of Costa Rica images from last month, if interested.)
   
  Have a great week!
   
  Bill
   
  Bill Hubick
St. Denis, Baltimore Co., Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com