Hi all --

Barry and I are frantically trying to get readfy to go away on a trip (Maryland listers alert! -- rarities sure to follow our departure!) so our birding has been limited to the local woods behind our home in Colesville, along Northwest Branch.

Yesterday we saw and heard: Parula Warbler (2, singing on traditional territories), Palm Warbler (1, yellow), Myrtle Warbler (8-10, looking snazzy), Gnatcatcher (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2). However NO Wood Thrushes or Gray Catbirds, both late. We have two pairs of House Wrens in our garden (boxes at opposite ends of the yard) but our Chimney Swifts are also not back yet.

Walking the dogs around the neighborhood at dusk we flushed a Barred Owl from a pine tree right next to the main road of the development.

We are off on a cruise from Osaka through Kurils to Kamchatka, then through Aleutians to Kodiak, Sitka and Vancouver. Will try and post a few updates to the list, with Norm's OK. Alas, we will miss most of the spring migration at Rock Creek Park DC so I hope others will step to the fore and post what is seen there as spring progresses...

Cheers, good birding.
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD