As I was leaving my house this morning ~ 5:40, a Cattle Egret flew over the 
driveway nice and low (at tree top level).  It was in beautiful breeding 
plumage, and I had a great view.  This was the second time I saw one here 
this year (also April 28), they are quite uncommon around here (only the third 
property record).  Not sure where it came from, I suspect one of the nearby 
fields, but it was headed to the river (Jug Bay area).  Although the Atlas 
Project is over, it is interesting to note that I did not observe this species in 
any of my Atlas blocks (all in PG County) from 2002-2006; it was not observed 
anywhere in PG County then, but May 20 is its "safe date", so it could have 
been an "O".

On the subject of egrets, where are they this year?  I just saw my first 
snowies (anywhere in MD) this weekend, and so far I've only seen a Great 
egret on three days, each time it was a single bird.  Missed it on the MAy 
count, seems like they have not migrated yet.

I finally had my first willow flycatcher of the year.  It was in an area where 
they have been breeding for several years, I was beginning to wonder.

I also (finally!) saw my first purple martin of the year this weekend.  Did they 
oversleep this winter?

Today I saw a Northern rough wing pair building a nest in a cavity of a vertical 
wall of a dirt bank.  The cavity looked excavated but I did not see them 
excavating it, only saw them taking grasses in it.  There was only one pair 
observed there (I read in Sibley this is typical).

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD