Drove out along River Road this morning looking for Prairie Warblers. I
found  eight!  The first was singing just east of the entrance to Terra
Rouge (18601 River Rd.). The bird was singing  back in the low bushes and I
never did see it.  About 20-yds. past the entrance I heard and saw ( well)
another high in a cedar tree. Further down River Road, about 50-yds. east
of  Hughes Rd. another Singing Prairie well seen on a cedar tree.  Then, at
the intersection of Hughes and River Rds.,  about 20-30 yards up Hughes were
two male Prairies in conflict over territory. They were flying around,
chasing each other, singing, and perching ,sometimes 20 feet away at eye
level. WOW!  Between Hughes and Sycamore Landing Rd. were three more singing
Prairies; I had nice looks at two of the three.  So, in all, I heard eight
and saw six. Not too bad!!
Moving on to Hugh's Hollow, I found a very cooperative Sora Rail at the
intersection of the first path to the right  off the main path in. The bird
was walking around , out in the open in the marsh, about 25 feet off the
path, and seemed not at ALL bothered by me.  I later saw it  three or more
times over about 20 minutes, from various locations place along that path.
Best views I ever had of a Sora.   Also heard and saw my FOS Orchard
Oriole.   In addition to the always copious Tree Swallows and Blackbirds,
there were an amazing number of Goldfinches there today. I counted over 25,
in a single group on the path, at one time, with that many or more in the
bushes beside where the 25 were on the path. Very interesting, not to
mention colorful.  And then it began to rain.
-- 
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.