Trudged up the red trail at Cromwell Valley Park and got to the top with 
only cardinals, titmice & robins to show for the hike.  At the top 
corner of the trail, I continued outside the park (??reservoir 
property??,  at any rate, the area I was in was not posted), hoping to 
see whatever the distant crows were hollering at.

While the crows were still far off, I heard 4 or 5 beents coming from a 
very wet hollow (run-off stream & lots of skunk cabbage).  I spent 30 
minutes down in the hollow, but did not hear any more beents or see any 
woodcock.  The murder of crows did, however, chase their target in my 
direction close enough to see that it was an owl.

I also had a Brown Thrasher, a calling & drumming Pileated Woodpecker, a 
Mourning Cloak butterfly, a white tee-shirt, a pair of white socks & a 
pair of shoes (with red laces).  Anybody missing the apparel items??

Yesterday (4/1), Dan & I saw a Tree Swallow battle at the base of box 
#25.  As we passed by, it looked like a very vicious battle to the 
death, but when we returned, the combatants were still at it and, after 
a couple minutes, they separated and the loser flew off.  The winner 
sang from the top of the box, flew a small victory lap & then quickly 
flew back to the box when three more Tree Swallows approached.

Last spring, we saw a similar vicious battle between two Titmice at 
Soldiers Delight.  We did not see the end of that battle.

Georgia McDonald   Towson, Balt Co