I made another fruitless rail and bittern search at Lily Pons this a.m. with
Mary Ann Beverly.  All we saw were pretty routine birds, until we walked
out, and Mary Ann spotted three wild Turkey's in the field opposite the
entrance to Lily Pons.  

From there we went to Ballenger Creek Rd., just west of Mountville.  The
Alder Flycatcher is still present and singing.  I ever got fuzzy photos.  No
sign of Dickcisssel or N. Bobwhite.  

But while there, we heard Northern Ravens, some of which lit into the trees
at the intersection of Ballenger Creek and Mountville.  I went to
investigate, and found four Ravens, and got some photos of two on the big
radio tower.  I suspect this was a family group.

From there, we headed back to Howard County, dropping into Western Regional
Park to check the settlement pond at the entrance for shorebirds.  While we
found nothing too remarkable, there was a nice variety consisting of 12
Killdeer, 10 Least Sandpipers, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, and one each of Spotted
and Solitary Sandpipers.  And we saw 3 Horned Larks getting a drink as well.

As we got ready to leave, we heard a surprising buzz.  Grasshopper Sparrows.
 There were 2-3 singing males present, maybe more.  I am unaware of any
previous reports at this location, at least not for this year.

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo
goawaybird at comcast dot net