Sorry for the very late post, but my computer has been hijacked by grandkids for the holidays.  I'm not really complaining.

Friday, Dec 26, about 11am, I was driving other family members to shop at Columbia mall when we spotted a large raptor perched in a tree near the road near the mall, not far from Cheesecake Factory.  It did not look "lumpy" enough for a red-tail.  The overall color, pattern, and shape, including the very small bill, looked to me like a Rough-leg.  However, I was driving, and in the mall traffic, I didn't think it safe to stop in the road for more careful observation.  A birder grandson who is familiar with rough-legs migrating through the Champlain Valley also thought it was a rough-leg.

Early to mid afternoon the non-shopping members of our family visited Centennial Lake, and saw a Cackling Goose and a list similar to what has been reported by Helen Patton on Dec 26.

Cliff Comeau
Beltsville/Calverton