Had a nice time birding Patuxents North Tract this morning.
Had a total of 37 species, mostly the normal suspects with a couple of  
exceptions.
At the bird feeders outside of the Visitor Contact Station there was a hen  
N. Bobwhite feeding
along with several Mourning Doves & many Sparrows, mostly  White-throateds. 
I've been told that its 
been showing up every morning this week. So nice spot for easy  viewing.
A little while later was walking along the Wildlife Loop keeping a eye on  
every Pine tree with cones, just in case...  Saw several Chickadees working  the 
cones and thought how nice it would be if just 1 would turn out to be a  
crossbill. Several minutes later there they were. Saw 2 female White-wings in a  
Virginia Pine 
on the overlook at the Wildlife Viewing area. Watched them only for 30 - 40  
seconds till they flew to the other
side of a row of pines. Was able to relocate them shortly from the loop  
road, and again only had a short
look at them till a Sharpie flew overhead and stirred everything up.  
Crossbills flew off with 5 other  that i hadn't seen till they flew  off. Searched 
the area for another 20 minutes but was unable to relocate them  again.
 
 
 
Rod Burley
Laurel