The C&O Canal Midwinter Count was held today, and our group covered Miles 
22, 23 and 24. Just beyond the Mile 24 marker (a bit more than one mile 
north of Riley's Lock) we encountered many Red-headed Woodpeckers flying 
around, calling, and foraging for food. There seemed to be both adults and 
immatures present. The ostensibly sane and rational folks accompanying me --  
Chris Wright, Brad Beukema, and Marcy Logan -- insist there were at least 8 
different birds!

We tallied 42 species over the three-mile stretch, including all seven 
woodpeckers, Barred Owl, both kinglets, and a nice number of Winter Wrens. 
There were relatively few ducks and almost no raptors, however. Overall, it 
was a really enjoyable and rewarding day of birding.

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)

----------------------------------------------------------------
"Look at the birds!" -- Pascal the parrot