Rob Gibb's post several days ago about a possible Northern Shrike at the
fields surrounding Magruder HS (on Muncaster Mill Rd in Rockville)
motivated me to wander over there on Saturday morning, before the big
freeze.  Walking the field between Sequoyah ES and Magruder HS, I found
crows and Canada Geese, but also a single Eastern Meadowlark, 2 Horned
Larks, and (sitting on the batting cage behind the MHS football field) a
Merlin.  These are good birds for Montgomery County, though my daughter,
a senior at MHS, seemed unthrilled.

   I have a question about access that Rob might be able to answer.  I
believe all these fields are county-owned (specifically by Montgomery
County Public Schools).  The fields are posted with 'No trespassing'
signs along Bowie Mill Road and Muncaster Mill Rd, but there are no such
signs anywhere on the school grounds bordering the fields.  Since I
parked at the elementary school, I figured I was legal in my wanderings.
Yes?  No?

 

                       Jim