Hi everybody:

     I left work early today from Gaithersburg and headed to Howard and Carroll counties. My stop in Howard Co. was at Western Regional Park. The pond on the way in on your right had 4 KILLDEER, 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a nearby singing BLUE GROSBEAK.  I then drove to the back of the park and checked some of the other fields (there were no athletic activities going on) and counted 9 KILLDEER & 11 HORNED LARKS. Other birds heard or seen included EASTERN KINGBIRD (1), another BLUE GROSBEAK, numerous SONG SPARROWS and a FIELD SPARROW.

     I then headed north on Rt. 97 ans went to Morgan Run. It was about 6 PM and I began walking the trails. It was not super birdy but I managed to see/hear the following species:

   Red-tailed Hawk   1
   Cedar Waxwing   9
   Catbird   6
   Brown Thrasher   1
   N. Cardinal   2
   Common Yellowthroat   4
   Song Sparrow   3
   Field Sparrow   7
   E. Towhee   5
   A Goldfinch   5

 About halfway back to the car it began to rain ( a hard drizzle). Just before I was back at the car I had a lone COMMON NIGHTHAWK ( a new County Bird) flyover fairly low in a northwesterly direction. I was in my car and missed the 20 minute downpour by about 10 minutes.

        Jim Green
  Gaithersburg, MD

Work in Moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!