Hi,
An abortive repeat of the previous day's walk w/John Landers for a pre-
dominantly odonating effort. Yesterday, I heard, briefly, a Parula W and
later, a Black and White; otherwise, pretty much a bust for birding ob-
servations, with the exception of the ever-present Acadian Flycatcher. I
was attempting, today, to find a missing hood for my 18-270mm zoom
lens (no joy).

About half-way to the dam spillway, I was pulled up short by a loud 
Thump! I was on an elevated portion of the footpath, adjacent to a boggy
area between me and the N. fork of the Patuxent R. As I gazed about for
the cause, I noticed a grayish-black plume, much like smoke, just above
the large-leaved flora in the low area. Tho' looking "smokey", it didn't
move. Then, I saw a couple patches of white, followed by a pointy-
faced apparition--a SKUNK!! My first real-life sighting, other than road
kill. The grayish plume was its extended and flared tail. When I finally
had the prescence of mind to unlimber my camera for a shot, it had al-
ready ambled off into the appropriately named Skunk Cabbage. The loud
noise I'd heard was its warning stamp of the feet. A real Pepe Le Pew.

Paul Noell
Balto   MD