Just a few birds of not over the last couple of days to report, mostly along
the Paint Branch Trail in College Park.  Yesterday morning, a MERLIN was
present at the swamp.  I waited for nearly 20 minutes hoping to watch it in
flight, but to no avail.  I was by no means disappointed though!  What a
beautiful bird.

This morning, among the various sparrows along the trail (Song, W-T, Field,
Swamp sparrows are regular just below the swamp) there were at least two FOX
SPARROWS in the woods at the top of the trail.  Both times this year that
I've seen them they've been in the same area.  If you go in from Cherry Hill
Rd. a couple hundred yards you'll find a downed tree blocking the creek with
rubbish accumulating upstream from it.  I'd say they're more likely to be
found in the brush just ahead on the opposite side from the creek.  Today I
saw one fly across the trail to briefly perch on the creek side and then
cross the creek to the area just upstream from this fallen tree.  The area
is somewhat open on the creek side, tall trees on the left.  If anyone wants
further details, contact me off list.  This morning there was also a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, my FOY in the same area.

Also of possible interest... Saturday morning, ~8am, there were two pairs of
WOOD DUCKs at Greenbelt Lake (as was the hen goldeneye which I'd missed on
previous visits).

Good Birding,
Ryan Farrell
College Park, MD