Hi Everyone,

I decided to squeeze in some birding this afternoon and started at Centennial Lake in Howard County. I hoped to get a look at the interesting Hooded Mergansers (/hybrids) photographed by Dan Kluza. There were two female-type Hooded Mergansers present, but they didn't show unusually dark lower parts or the thin white border around the bill. I've also asked Dan Kluza for additional photos if any are available. Having said that, I wanted to throw out that I am not confident of my hypothesis from earlier today, especially after mean old Matt Hafner started taking pot shots at it. Some people just don't appreciate a good waterfowl mystery! :) (I will concede that I don't see anything structurally against pure Hooded Merganser.) Other waterfowl present were six Canvasbacks, 14 Ring-necked Ducks, a hen Bufflehead, and an American Coot.

The south side of Centennial Park has a lot of great spruces, so I walked that edge looking for crossbills, but no luck here. I continued on to Font Hill Wetland Park, where Jim Wilkinson observed five WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLs yesterday. I started at the intersection of Carrigan Drive and Font Hill Drive because I heard a lot of activity. The spruces along the northwestern corner were covered in finches, but to my surprise it was primarily a massive flock of House Finches. When they flushed at one point to a leafless deciduous tree, I was able to count 98 of them. Among them were at least two vocal PINE SISKINs and several waxwings and bluebirds. I then proceeded south along Font Hill Drive to the park proper. After a brief walk through the park, I returned to a promising stand of conifers at the extreme northeast corner of the park. As I approached, I watched a male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL fly in and land in one of the conifers, then quickly fly directly
 away with what appeared to be two female/immature types. Great find, Jim! This neighborhood is loaded with cone-laden evergreens and could hold birds for a while. Also of interest at Font Hill were a Belted Kingfisher working the tiny, unfrozen stream and a Swamp Sparrow in the cattails.

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com