October 28: I saw the following birds at two sites in Howard County in late 
afternoon on this windy, cool day. At Meadowbrook Park west section a 
Vesper Sparrow scurried, mouse like, through the long grasses near the 
pavilion. Along the footpath was a large, constantly moving flock of Chipping 
Sparrows (30-40 birds) that contained two Field Sparrows. Nearby was an 
immature White-crowned Sparrow and one yellow Palm Warbler that was 
briskly wagging its tail. There were also numbers of Cedar Waxwings and 
Yellow-rumped Warblers at Meadowbrook. At the Oakland Mills garden Plots in 
Columbia the highlights were an Eastern Phoebe, 2 yellow Palm warblers, a late 
Indigo Bunting, and another flock of approximately 20 Chipping Sparrows.

Jim Wilkinson
Columbia, MD