After joining forces with Jim Brighton and Steve Ford to track down 
the Lark Sparrow at the Blackwater Visitor Center this morning, 
I drove down to Cedar Creek Road, where I found an immature light 
phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.  It was perched in a dead snag 
that stands by itself about 75 yards from the north side of the road, 
about 1 1/2 mile from where the road starts at Wesley Church Road.  
I crept up on it in my car, and when I had apparently gotten too close 
for comfort, it took off and starting circling over the marsh - ending up 
over my head before flying off.  I got great looks at it and was able to 
tick off all of the important field marks.  (I also double-checked my 
field guide, since my face is still a bit pink from misidentifying the loon 
at Lilypons earlier this week.)  This may be the same bird that was 
reported by Kevin Graff last weekend.

In the same area I also saw a single marsh hawk.  Along the road 
were many Brown-headed Nuthatches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 
Swamp Sparrows, and a couple of Song Sparrows.

It's been an interesting week!   

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)



-- 
--
you @ usa.com
is available and 170 other free domains.
Sign up at www.mail.com