After being cooped up in the house all weekend, I was anxious to get out
today, if only for a few hours.  I spent the mid-day hours driving the snowy
roads of northern Talbot County (Church Lane, Skipton-Cordova Road, Coveys
Landing Road).  I saw more HORNED LARKS than I could count, good numbers of
AMERICAN PIPITS, and even a few KILLDEER along the roads and in the fields.
 Eventually I decided to head over to Pickering Creek Audubon Center.  On
Sharp Road, about 3/10 mile west of Longwoods Road, I stopped in the road
when I saw a small flock of larks on the roadside.  The larks flew away, but
a smaller, browner, streakier bird remained behind - a female LAPLAND
LONGSPUR.  She was happy to keep foraging in the exposed grass, ignoring the
traffic passing in the other lane, and I was happy to watch her - until I
finally decided to move on for safety's sake.

I had a pleasant walk at Pickering Creek but found nothing unusual, though
it is always nice to see the White-crowned Sparrows (at the feeders this
time).

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)