Shortly after seeing the groundhog yesterday at our feeders, we had a FOY yard bird - a field sparrow.  It was eating millet out of two different feeders.  I left after breakfast and when I got home later that afternoon, it was still here.  We don't normally get field sparrows at our feeders here, except in migration.

It has been an incredible week for sparrows - we've had 10 species at our feeders this week (over a 4 day period).  Our high count on Tree Sparrows was 4 at one time, on two occasions.  Seems like they are everywhere this winter.  I think with the melting snow and weather trendoing toward milder temps they are starting to move around a bit now.

I also noticed a big gull flock at about 4:45 on the PG side at the mouth of Western Branch.  The large gull flocks have not been using this area since the big snow two weeks ago, until today.  I counted from a long distance and did not see anything obviously different, but there were 1550 Ringers and 890 Herrings; almost all were adults.  There was also a smaller flock below Jackson Landing on the mudflat on the PG side, but I did not count them because I had a partially obstructed view.  Looked like mostly Herring, of mixed ages.

This morning I saw my FOY Wood Duck on the river behind the house.  Normally that is a sure sign of Spring here, as they do not use this area in winter, but this year I have my doubts.  I will know for sure when we see or hear our first Woodcock!  Normally they have begun to fly laps around the fields at dusk by now, or very close to this date, but this year it may be another 2 weeks before we get one due to ground still being buried with snow.

I went down to Point Lookout this morning and it was wonderful - I saw grass and dirt !!!  AND 2 SNOW BUNTINGS!

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD