I was one of the huddled masses in the am, from 9:45 am on at least
(when I was there), the redpolls were NOT seen.

Mark Hoffman

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jeff Shenot
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 2:36 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Fort Smallwood 2/24/08: Redpolls - NO in pm

I saw Scott M.'s photos of them at the picnic table, what an insult to
my 
timing!  I hardly ever venture far from Jug Bay in search of MD birds,
but 
thought I would try to get out more this year.  Since I have been hoping
to 
see a redpoll this winter, I went up to Ft Smallwood yesterday and
arrived 
right after lunch; about an hour's drive from Jug Bay.  I heard the
redpolls 
were around all morning and last seen at about 11:30, but they moved
from 
the area where they had been all morning.  Apparently they were full
from 
whatever they ate while getting there photos taken at the picnic tables!

There were 5 or 6 other birders scattered around also looking for them
while I 
was there, with no luck.  I spent about two hours (~12:30-2:30)
carefully 
scouring the area, looking at and around every junco and goldfinch that
I 
could find.  There were quite a few and they were very active feeding; I
saw 
probably at least 40 juncos (widely scattered) and 5-6 goldfinch in the
general 
park area where the redpolls have been (I estimate 20-25 acres).  At
2:45 pm 
I had to leave but the redpolls were nowhere to be found.  Drat!  I went
over 
to say hello to Sue R (hawkwatch) before I left, so it was nice to see
her and 
the hawkwatch area (my first time there, but I read her hawkwatch
posts).

"Wish I had been there earlier",  or at least could get a refund for my
5 dollar 
entry fee!  I won't be making a repeat attempt (it's too far away and I
don't 
have enough free time), but based on posts from today, perhaps the best 
time to attempt seeing them is during the morning.

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD