En route to Centennial Lake in Howard County this morning, I stopped 
off at a few points around Triadedelphia Reservoir, where water level 
is still very low.

 From a vantage point of the boat ramp at the bottom of Greenbridge 
Road (Montgomery County) I could see a group of at least 300 Common 
Mergansers in open water to the north.  Right across from the boat 
ramp there were a few Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers, 
together with a Pied-billed Grebe and a RED-NECKED GREBE in basic plumage.

There were additional Common Mergansers off the Pigtail area on the 
Howard County side of the lake, but there was limited opportunity to 
scope the flock, as WSSC has closed the yellow gate and put up "No 
Trespassing" signs. (Is this something new and permanent, Howard 
County birders?)

Wilde Lake in Columbia has very little open water but a (the?) 
Red-necked Grebe that was recently reported was tucked in there with 
some Mallards.  This one too was still in basic plumage.

I spent 1-1/2 hours at Centennial, enjoying the warm sunshine and 
melting snow pack, but initially -- round noon -- having limited 
success finding the White-winged Crossbills birders have been seeing 
since early February.

Eventually I found two females in a spruce very close to the south 
entrance of the park where Mark Hoffman took some great photos the other day.

After an hour spent walking the trails and looking at waterfowl 
(Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser and a drake Canvasback) I went 
back to the trees close to the south entrance and this time found a 
small Crossbill flock, including three quite different looking males 
and 4-5 females.  Suddenly the whole group took off, flying 
northwest, and I realized that there had been at least a dozen birds 
in the flock.  These birds are pretty sneaky - they eat very quietly 
and don't vocalize much, so it's essential to watch carefully for 
movements.  Listening for the birds is quite difficult as traffic 
noise is considerable on Route 108 by the south entrance.

Good birding.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom