Ross - to the victor go the spoils! We finished the month at 116, four behind you. We're happy with the total, when  you consider the lack of rarities, our jobs -- and the fact that we spent one January weekend out in West Virginia skiing with the boys.

Our last day, Sunday, January 31, we were guided by the very able David Yeany out in western Maryland. We added some nice birds in Alleghany County, including American Tree Sparrow, Screech Owl and Raven in the North Branch area of the C&O Canal oustide Cumberland. Then misadventure struck. We decided to stop off at Finzel Swamp on the off-chance we could turn up Ruffed Grouse or something else new. Over-confidently, I drove down the small hill to the Finzel sanctuary parking lot and realized I could not get the new (non-AWD) Ford Escape Hybrid back up. We were trapped for three hours, and getting out involved a comedy of errors that eventually came right when we helped the tow truck driver re-attach his snow plow (which had fallen off the front of the truck), he plowed the road four times, and then pulled us out. We added Black-Capped Chickadee to our list. Given the cost of plowing/towing, it was a $150 BC Chickadee for me. (Note to anyone going to Finzel in snowy conditions: Park at the top of the hill).

Garrett County proved extremely non-birdy, but we ended the day in triumph at dusk with a Peregrine Falcon in a tree, near its usual roost atop the Cumberland courthouse.

A fun month. The Big January helped us become better birders, got us to new corners of the state, and helped us get to better know some of our fellow Maryland birders.

Good birding!
Warren & Lisa Strobel
Annapolis, MD
www.birdcouple.com