Nice crisp morning for a walk so I went over to Noland's Ferry and again the
ferry wasn't running so I decided to walk to Cumberland. Only got out there
a couple of miles before I decided I'd bit off more than I could chew and
satisfied myself with making sure the BALD EAGLE nest was still active - it
is and the adult I saw in the nest might have been feeding something I
couldn't see down in there.

Other than a singing RUBY-CROWNs and some BLUEBIRDS trying to kill each
other over a nearby female, the only thing to report was some diving female
COMMON MERGANSERS.

On the way home, I stopped at the Audrey Carroll sanctuary on Old Annapolis
Road. Some Bluejays were making a noise that reminded me of Ospreys. Anybody
ever hear that one before? Usually it's their standard Red-Shoulder
imitation.
Sparrows abounded here. In fact I caught 2 SONG SPARROWS in the act of
abounding. Ain't it a bit early for that? I just looked at the Yellow Book
and there are no egg dates shown. They couldn't be at it all ready. Well,
the Bluebirds are- some boxes I checked had nests started. There were also
TREE SWALLOWS around, but these nests looked neat and tidy like Bluebird
nests. No eggs yet.

As for the abounding, if anybody notices anything like it on your walks,
ladies avert your eyes. Gentlemen may tip their hats if they wish.

Jerry Tarbell
Somewhat shocked in Carroll County