Hi Folks,

Yesterday, Brian Sykes, Charlie Kucera and I spent many hours hitting some 
of our favorite local spots for the Baltimore Co. Midwinter Count.  The bird 
activity was underwelming, but we did have a few OK finds:  At the 
Halethorpe Farms Pond, Brian Sykes had three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs (been 
there for a week), a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (unusual here), a RUBY-CROWNED 
KINGLET, three SWAMP SPARROWs and a FOX SPARROW.  Charlie Kucera and I found 
our only BROWN CREEPER of the day at UMBC, and in the evening at Southwest 
Area Park had three AMERICAN TREE SPARROWs while hiking the south loop path, 
after having a hen RING-NECKED PHEASANT fly across the road in front of the 
car during a quick drive-through.  The lack of wind made it a great day to 
be out.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie