I decided to do something different today.  I have thought for a long 
time that the Patapsco Valley looked like an interesting place, but had 
never gotten around to checking it out.  Today I followed Stan Arnold's 
excellent web instructions 
(http://mysite.verizon.net/cakarbutus/patapsco_ponds.htm) for accessing 
ponds 1-14.  (Stan, only one small change: in front of the grassy area 
in front of Pond #11, a curb has recently been installed - traffic cones 
not yet removed.  Now necessary to park across the street, where there 
is a wide shoulder lane.  The gate is still there, but overgrown.)

I actually didn't see much at the ponds - most of the access paths were 
overgrown, etc.  The best birding was west of Pond #1, off of Ridge 
Road.  Most of the birds encountered were "heard only", because of very 
tall trees and lush foliage in the understory.  I suspect the ponds will 
be better in the winter - Stan's notes mention ducks, etc.  One problem 
was that in many locations, noise made voice ID a challenge.  I-195, 
I-695, and the BaltWash are all very close, with I-95 and BWI only a 
little farther.

The list below doesn't include Blue-headed Vireo, but I suspect there 
are several along the ridge trail off of Ridge Rd.  Their songs were 
similar to, but much slower than, Red-eyed, but they didn't sound quite 
right for Blue-headed either.  I am beginning to understand that some 
bird songs change noticeably as events occur in the lives of the birds, 
like courting, nest building, raising young, etc.  The songs in most of 
the recordings are probably courting songs.

	Bob Hartman
	Colesville/Silver Spring


near Furnace Rd & Stoney Run
============================
Carolina Chickadee
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Downy Woodpecker
Wood Thrush

trail w of Furnace Rd n of Stoney Run
=====================================
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Wood Thrush
Acadian Flycatcher
Downy Woodpecker
Carolina Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Mourning Dove
Eastern Towhee
Indigo Bunting
Pileated Woodpecker
Ovenbird

Ridge Rd s of Furnace Rd
========================
Ovenbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Great Blue Heron
Wood Thrush
Tufted Titmouse

ridge trail e of Ridge Rd, s of Furnace Rd
==========================================
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Wood Thrush
Red-eyed Vireo
Mourning Dove
American Robin
Eastern Towhee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Tufted Titmouse
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Pileated Woodpecker

Pond #4
=======
Indigo Bunting
Great Blue Heron
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Song Sparrow
Wood Duck
Yellow Warbler
Warbling Vireo (probable)