This morning I went out at 7:30 to look around the yard for birds, and it is 
obviously THE day that the leader of all the Patuxent river snapping turtles 
decided to deploy a massive invasion.  We currently have 5 in the yard, 
presumably all here to lay eggs.  Size range 10-15 inches.  Every year we get 
a few that come up to lay eggs, and make a mess with their digging, but we 
have never had more than two at once.

All the birds here today are breeders.  Today I have not heard any Blackpolls, 
which have still been tricklling through in low numbers the past few days.  We 
had Summer tanager and A. redstart singing in the yard yesterday but I 
haven't heard either yet today.  A Baltimore oriole is on territory and will 
hopefully nest here again.  The Cedar waxwings have been very active for 
about a week now.  Most of the obnoxious grackles are done nesting, 
thankfully, and many other early breeders are also done with their first brood/s 
(M. dove, titmouse, C. chickadee, D and R-b woodpeckers).

This morning we have a yellow-throated vireo singing insistently and I am 
looking forward to a great Memorial day!  The day of the snapper!

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD