About 40 Tundra Swans were present around roughly 12:30 PM (Saturday, February 14) in fields along Route 85 in southern Frederick County, just north of Adamstown Rd. They were easily visible driving along Route 85 where it's harder to pull off the road, but hidden by slight hills when pulled over on Adamstown Road (small gravel pull-off) or turning around at a driveway further north on Route 85. (Quite a few Mourning Doves were also foraging in part of the field.)

My husband and I stopped for a short walk at Lilypons as well. I spotted five possible Rusty Blackbirds flying away, but no confirmed ID -- they were too quick for me. Definitely not grackles based on tail length, and no songs/calls were heard. One Common Grackle was present nearby.

Lilypons highlights included one American Tree Sparrow, several Golden-crowned Kinglets, at least one Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one Brown Creeper and several Hooded Mergansers in flight. There was a lot of bird activity along some of the sheltered wooded pond areas but we had limited birding time today. Other birds included numerous White-throated and Song Sparrows, several Ring-necked Ducks, several Mallards, at least 3 Great Blue Herons and a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks.

(Also, we have at least five Pine Siskins coming to our feeders! I had been waiting for them all winter, and they finally showed up just four or five days before the Great Backyard Bird Count!)

Jessica Bruland
Monrovia, MD
aderynyreira -AT- yahoo.com