Hi all --

(I send this to MDosprey from another  computer but it didn't show up -- so resending, please excuse if you get two copies...)

Stopped by Brighton Dam on way back from seeing the WW Crossbills in Howard County (see below), there is only a tiny unfrozen area viewable from the dam. It is a bit unclear whether it is in Montgomery or Howard Counties, since the lake is so low. Let's say it straddles the county line. Anyway, in this bit of open water was a single RED-NECKED GREBE, a Black Duck, several Ring-billed Gulls and two sleeping Canada Geese (one of which seemed 1/2 the size of the other but with heads tucked, not sure if it was a Cackler, or just a runt regular goose.) A Bald Eagle flew by. below the dam, about 50 geese feeding on the lawn, all Canadas.

There were about 12-15 WW Crossbills along Jennings Chapel Road, feeding in a row of spruce trees along a driveway on the south side, beyond the "High Grove" #3445 house where they (presumably) were seen yesterday. Kevin Graff & Nicco Sarbanes were also there; they had asked and received permission from the landowner to walk the drive in order to get better looks and some photos. Apparently the flock was also, at one point, on the spruces at #3445.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD