Hi All, 

After two and a half months of slow birding im finally getting some action. I 
was really thinking there was something wrong with me. Why could everyone 
else find so many yet i cant find none. Any way last weekend was very active  
around the Patapsco Valley State Park Avalon area . I birded Gun rd. and a 
trail from Rolling rd. across from the park and ride which is part of PVSP . 
Found a Bluebird playground halfway down Gun rd. There is one road that 
turns left off Gun rd. and if you could turn right is a big dead tree in a field 
which was very birdy . From trail off Rolling road found Eastern Towhee, White 
throated sparrow, Common yellowthroat, Blackthroated blue warbler(very 
curious . i wondered if the pile of feathers on the trail was one of its friends. ) 

Work was exciting yesterday! Well not actually work but birding in the area 
behind work was. I believe these woods belong to Electric Company but ive 
found a way in and have been birding here about two hours a week . Off 
Bestgate Road across from the Annapolis mall . I birded here for three hours 
Thursday morning looking for the Thrush i had seen the day before with no 
luck and kept hearing what may have been a Pileated WP but just couldnt get 
one. Lots of Northern Flickers which i supposed was what i was hearing . Had 
Downy  , Redbellied , Black throated blue , Lots of Bluejays. Very noisy. I had 
seen the Pileated last year here and was stunned to find one in these woods 
near this congested area. Anyway Friday i was birding the woods from my 
car . Five minutes after arriving the Thrush was sitting in front of me on the 
wooden railings around the parking lot . Likely Hermit. About five minutes later 
a biggish bird flew across corner of parking lot and lands in the dead tree in 
front of me. Pileated Yes,After not finding it the day before . Then he flies 
back across the corner and lands in tall tree. I seen movement not far from 
where he was which was another Pileated wp. They flew back over the lot and 
i got out to see if i could find them and there they were in another dead tree 
with a Red shouldered hawk. OOPS. anyway they flew off i had to get to work. 


Last weekend and this weekend I had a Eastern Phoebe in my yard in Morrell 
Park . Found a picture of the one i had in this yard dated exactly one year 
ago. it stayed for a week or two and wasnt seen anymore till now . Same 
Phoebe?


Saundra Byrd 

baltimore