We spent an increasingly cold and windy morning today at the Blue 
Mash Nature Trail in Montgomery County.  The strong wind and below 
freezing temperatures kept the birds down and our sparrow tally -- 8 
Song, 4 White-throated and 1 Fox -- was way below expectations.  The 
pond on the landfill property had 11 Ring-necked Ducks (all but one a 
drake) and was already 80% frozen.  The other pond, close to Zion 
Rd., was 90+% open, but had nothing on it. The "Zion Road Pond," 
opposite the entrance road to the Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 
was completely open but no waterfowl were visible on it either.

Most unexpected sighting of the morning at Blue Mash was a young male 
Common Yellowthroat, looking thoroughly frozen, by the chain link 
fence that separates the main trail from the old landfill.

Mike and Joy Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club, MOS
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

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