Yesterday (Tuesday, October 30) I had the opportunity to do a 
little birding at Black Hill Regional Park in Montgomery County.  
I started at the marshy area west of the boat ramp.  The main 
attraction here was a small flock of PURPLE FINCHES (5 or 6) 
that put in a brief appearance.  I also saw several Song Sparrows 
and one FIELD SPARROW.  In the most distant part of the marsh, 
there was a pair of WOOD DUCKS.  As I was getting ready to leave, 
I heard a "croak" and looked up to see a COMMON RAVEN circling 
very high overhead.  A few seconds later, it was joined by a second 
raven (which I heard, but could not see).

Next I went to the Visitor's Center to check out the feeders.  At the 
same feeder, in quick succession, I saw a BLACK-CAPPED 
CHICKADEE, a CAROLINA CHICKADEE, and a RED-BREASTED 
NUTHATCH.  (Compared to the Carolina, the Black-cap looked almost 
as big as a titmouse!  I also heard it sing once.)  In the shrubby area 
below the building, there was a small flock of White-throated Sparrows 
and a single Dark-eyed Junco.  Nearby, on the lake, I saw a small flock 
of BUFFLEHEADS (6 males, 2 females) - my first of the fall.

Finally, I walked into the Ten Mile Creek area and found that it was 
practically overrun with juncos.  There were also quite a few White-throated 
Sparrows and 2 or 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers (thrown in for good measure).  
Out on the lake I saw 15 RING-NECKED DUCKS, both males and females 
(also FOF for me), 3 or 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and a single 
PIED-BILLED GREBE - plus the usual Mallards and Canada Geese.

Nothing especially exotic - but it was a nice day to be outside.


Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)



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