Between my morning and lunchtime walks around Schoolhouse Pond, I saw some new arrivals of returning wintering birds.  Highlights included a calling Hermit Thrush, which was vocal along the back edge of the pond this morning and at noon.  Also seen for the first time this season at the pond was a Brown Creeper and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Both birds were working on trees at the rear of the pond.

Waterfowl included a pair of Hooded Mergansers, several Wood Ducks, 1 Northern Shoveler, a couple dozen Canada Geese, and 1 Mute Swan.  Raptors included an adult Bald Eagle, a Red Shouldered Hawk, and a flyover Sharp-shinned Hawk (all this morning).  Other birds present included an American Coot, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

There have been few to no gulls at the pond at lunchtime (or during the afternoon) over the last week.  However, there were several hundred flyover Laughing Gulls during my morning walk, as well as smaller numbers of Herring and Ring-billed Gulls.  

Fred Shaffer

Patuxent MOS