While walking the dog around Greenbelt Lake this morning, I was 
delighted to find a single CASPIAN TERN fishing very energetically 
over the main part of the lake - species #125 for my lake list!  
Since I had forgotten my binoculars (unusual for me), I wasn't sure 
what else was there - 2 or 3 pairs of Wood Ducks, a few Mallards, 
lots of blackbirds and robins, plus the resident suspects, 
including a Cooper's Hawk.  We had almost completed our circuit  
of the lake, however, when I spotted two suspicious-looking white 
lumps on the far side.  I took the dog back to the house, retrieved 
my bins, and went back for another look.  I found that there were 
not 2, but 3, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS roosting in some 
small trees on the south shore of the lake, at the entrance to what 
we call the South Bay.  (In case anyone else is interested, they are 
visible only from the north shore - say, where the three flat river 
boulders have been placed for fishermen.)  Since they were just 
sitting there (as night herons are wont to do), I went home again and 
came back with my scope for an even better look.  Oddly enough, 
I have been checking that very same spot for years, hoping to see 
a night heron there someday.  Species #126 for the lake!

Good spring birding!    

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)



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