Today I was working in Charles County.  I work with the schools
(selling supplies and materials of instruction), so I am lucky to able
to squeeze in some birding between school visits. Though this is a
busy time of year, today after my meeting in La Plata, I ventured off
to visit some schools off the beaten path.  While travelling, I
stopped by Purse State Park
(http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/purse.html).  I must
say, it was worth the detour.

The moment I stepped out of the 'school supply mobile' I came face to
face with a very large, very adult BALD EAGLE.  Normally, Eagles are
ho hum... I mean, they're off the list now, right?  But, literally, it
was flying just about 20 feet directly over my head and down the tree
lined road.  So I decided to stay a while and look / listen for what
else might be hanging around this great stretch of road.  In a two
mile area, I saw...

4	Great Blue Heron
3	Osprey
5	Bald Eagle	
*There were two seperate pairs, the one single I mentioned (above),
and a lone Juv.  It could have been as many as 7, but I can't be sure
that I wasn't seeing the same individuals.
3	Belted Kingfisher
1	Downy Woodpecker
3	Eastern Wood-Pewee
1	Acadian Flycatcher
1	Eastern Phoebe
2	American Crow
2	Carolina Chickadee
1	White-breasted Nuthatch
3	American Goldfinch

I would recommend this road/area for 'driving while birding' as the
main road is so quiet, you could park and listen and look without
having a car pass by for ten minutes at a time (MD 224 / Riverside
Road). There are lots of great marsh areas to view on either side of
the road, interrupted by rather dense forest areas, and Purse State
Park is small, but great. It is a short hike from the small lot to the
river banks.

On a side note, I did bring home a slew of very, very, very small
tick-like creatures.  I noticed them biting my knees by the time I got
to Waldorf, on the way home.  I knew I was in trouble then...  I'm
still itchy!  I was dressed in a sport coat and tie (you know, typical
rugged birding attire?), so I didn't cover myself with Ben's Bug Stuff
before venturing off the road.  When will I learn?

Good birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD