I walked early this morning (11/3) to Lake Elkhorn in Columbia, Howard County.  The sun was just coming up and mist was rising from the surface of the lake. Highlights were two male Buffleheads close to the dam, six Pied-billed Grebes and a female Lesser Scaup in the middle of the lake, an Eastern Phoebe along the bank, and a first fall male Common Yellowthroat (showing a hint of the black mask), near the bridge at the upper end. There was also a Great Blue Heron standing motionless in the water above the bridge and a Belted Kingfisher nearby. Close to Brush Run were a Brown Creeper and my first flock of juncos this fall.

Jim Wilkinson
Columbia, MD