I decided to finally try for the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE this morning, hoping that a Snowy Owl wouldn't reappear close to home while I was gone. One the way down I stopped at the Wrighton Road crossbill location in Anne Arundel County. On stepping out of the car I was greeted by the soft crackling of hemlock cones. There were 6 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, all females, feeding actively in the trees, often on the ground and no higher than 10 feet, and allowing amazingly close viewing. There was also a BROWN THRASHER feeding under the same trees. This was around 7:15, so the day as off to a good start. Unfortunately, luck didn't hold; the BAGO at Jefferson Patterson Park did not show in the 3 hours I was there. There was a nice collection of mostly GREATER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, LONG-TAILED DUCK and lots of HORNED GREBES, and viewing conditions were excellent. David Smith was arriving as I was leaving, hopefully he'll have?better news to report. Oh, and the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was not visible in the goose flock at?Solomons.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
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