I paid another visit this morning to the Green Farm Conservation Park 
(aka Lois Green Conservation Park) next to the Montgomery Air 
Park.  Despite not starting my walk until almost 9:30 a.m. I ran into 
several active groups of birds, most of them anchored by Ruby-crowned 
Kinglets, which are suddenly everywhere.

Of  8 warbler species, the best were TENNESSEE (1), ORANGE-CROWNED 
(2) and WILSON'S (1 bright male).  The other warblers were Magnolia, 
B-T Green, B-T Blue, Yellowthroat, and my first Yellow-rumps of the 
fall.  Also exciting was to see 3 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS; at one point I 
had two together right in front of me - just like Tyler Bell did at 
SERC in Edgewater. These are truly gorgeous looking birds.

Other notables were a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a good 
variety of sparrows -- SONG, SWAMP, CHIPPING, FIELD, and my first of 
the fall WHITE-THROATED.  Towhees were everywhere -- I counted 14 and 
there must have been even more.  Total species count was 43.

This fairly new Montgomery County park in Gaithersburg is going to be 
a real favorite when birders get to know it better.  The parking lot 
is off Snouffer School Rd., on the right as you drive north, 
immediately after the traffic light at Centerway Rd.  The lot is 
newly paved and striped for parking, but there is as yet no park 
sign.    I have never seen any other vehicle in this new lot; most of 
the (few) park users appear to be locals. There are lots of trails 
and it's easy to get a bit lost.  In almost 3 hours birding there 
today I came across only three other people.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda



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