The highlight of my morning walk around Schoolhouse Pond was an immature 
Little Blue Heron.  The Heron flew in and rested for several minutes on the 
mudflats at the rear of the pond. It then lifted off and flew several times 
around the rear of the pond before flying towards the northwest in the 
direction of the wetlands along Brown Station Road.

Also present was the 1st summer Black-crowned Night Heron in its usual tree.  
I believe that this bird has been present for the past four weeks, although it is 
not always visible.  It is in the low scrub willow on the left hand side of the 
pond (when looking from Governor Oden Bowie Drive) just before you get to 
the boardwalk connection to the townhouse offices.  Just look for the tree 
with all the whitewash on the lower branches.  Two Green Herons were near it 
this morning.

Other highlights included my first flyover gulls since late May.  Eight Laughing 
Gulls flew over in the direction of the landfill.  And, there was a juvenile 
Osprey (with an adult) fishing the waters of the pond.  The young bird made 
several awkward dives into the water from a variety of heights without 
success.  Just from what I noticed, the bird dove six or seven times without 
catching any fish.  Adults are usually successful once every two or three 
times.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS