Highlights from my morning walk around Schoolhouse Pond included a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher foraging close to the boardwalk in the willows near the rear of the pond.  At one point, the bird perched on the wire rail of the boardwalk, allowing very good views.  Also present was a Veery low in the vegetation near the same area.  The Veery than flew back into the woods behind the pond, where I lost sight of it.  

Other birds seen or heard included 3 Eastern Wood Pewees, 1 Acadian Flycatcher, several Phoebes, 2 Common Yellowthroats, 1 White-eyed Vireo, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Great Egrets, 4 Great Blue Herons, (no night herons this morning), Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, 2 Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, 2 Catbirds, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, and 7 flyover Laughing Gulls.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS