I decided to do some New Year's Day birding but was too late for the local field trip. Around 10 AM I saw an Eastern Phoebe along southbound Route 29 under the Route 216 overpass at Fulton. Traffic was light for the holiday but is normally very heavy at this location.  A Red-shouldered Hawk was perched nearby. Near the Limekiln Middle School in Fulton was a male American Kestrel.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over the Woodmont Academy along Frederick Road. At Western Regional Park there were a Fox Sparrow, two Field Sparrows and a male Eastern Towhee.  There was an adult Red-tailed Hawk and another Red-shouldered along Route 29 near US 40.

Jim Wilkinson
Columbia, MD