I decided to go after the Long-tailed Ducks at Patuxent Research Refuge late this morning.  I had hoped to tough it out all day at work today, but Rob Ostrowski made a pretty convincing argument that when these "birding emergencies" arise (i.e. a county bird), sometimes we have to make the tough choices.  As previously posted, the 2 Long-tailed Ducks were swimming and diving next to the fishing platform on the south end of Cash Lake.  They provided great views very close to the deck.  The birds are most visible directly from the fishing platform, which is about a .8 mile walk from the visitors center.  Also present were 37 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Bufflehead, 10 or so Double-crested Cormorants, many Tree Swallows, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and 1 singing Pine Warbler.

I bumped into Dan Haas on my way out, who mentioned the Little Gull at Back River.  As I was already close to Laurel, I decided to go there next where I saw one Little Gull feeding on and over the Back River with approximately 300 Bonaparte's Gulls.  The birds were in a large flock to the south and east of the bridge, feeding actively over the river.  

Fred Shaffer
Crofton, Anne Arundel