This AM (Thurs) I birded my way to the site of the recently reported 
Loggerhead Shrike in Hagerstown. I timed it so that I could leisurely 
eat lunch while waiting for it to appear if need be. When I arrived at 
1100 no shrike was present. I remained inside the car the whole time I 
was there, leaving a door open to catch the breeze. A Red-tailed Hawk, 
Mockingbird, Golfinches, and a probable fly-by Blue Grosbeak (too poorly 
seen thru the windshield), but none of the reported super-good birds, 
came and went. After lunch, at 1137, a bird suddenly landed on a mullein 
stalk ~50' to the "right" of the playground. Was it the shrike?

Yes! He posed for ~5 min's while I obtained a few distant photos, then 
as I closed the car door harder than intended, he spooked off; then 
later re-appeared briefly on the playground equipment.

Earlier this AM I explored the West Friendship Regional Park (in w. 
Howard Co) with Jeff Culler, who was kind enough to show me around. No 
Blue Grosbeak, my nemesis Ho Co bird, was seen there, so I went on to 
try at Western Regional Park. The pond area did not yield any BLGR as 
reported y'day, but a surprise Grasshopper Sparrow was a nice 
consolation. Driving past the playing fields, tho', I first heard then 
spotted an adult male singing lustily away as if it were the start of 
nesting season. A truly gorgeous bird in the full sunlight.

Fred Fallon
Huntingtown