I birded Blue Mash Nature Trail in Montgomery County this morning, 
starting late at about 9 a.m. -- too late to hear or see any 
Black-billed Cuckoos, which have been a fixture there for the last 
couple of weeks.  But I did hear dueting Barred Owls from the wood 
over Zion Rd. at about 10:30 a.m.

Best sighting today was of two singing WILLOW FLYCATCHERs.  The Trail 
continues to be good for Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats and 
Yellow-breasted Chats.  Anyone going there for the next few days 
needs to wear waterproof boots -- it's really wet.

I then moved on to seriously underbirded Rachel Carson Conservation 
Park. Having not been there in a good while, I was pleased to see 
that the trails are now marked and it is somewhat less easy to get 
lost.  I was even more please to hear and see singing HOODED and 
KENTUCKY WARBLER.  Both birds were along the Rachel Carson Trail in 
areas where there is substantial understory, with the Hooded being at 
a higher elevation.

Good Birding.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom