Enjoyed walking an old "stompin' grounds" from about noon 'til 1600.
This area is verging on climax forest designation, chock full of old, huge
Tulip Trees. Can't remember where it was, now, but I used to know where
a specimen-sized Sassafras tree (2'+ in dia.) could be found. There were
a no. of OVENBIRDS calling over a large area. My first bird was a CAT-
BIRD, followed shortly by a singing SCARLET TANAGER [my FOY].
Along the way, there were numerous ROBINS and an assortment of 
WOOD THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH and SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
Among several of the usual types, I was treated to a nice sighting of the
PILEATED WOODPECKER, complementing it very vocal presence.

Of course, those who know me wouldn't be surprised I had other 
motives which prodded these 83 yr. old legs into this spectacular and
hilly area: mushrooms and wildflowers. I was rewarded for my efforts
by 3 black morels [Morchella elata] and 49 yellow morels [M. esculenta]
which added up to that of my college graduating class: '52! 

Also, I again made the acquaintance of an old friend, Pennywort, which
is in the Gentian family [Obolaria virginica], and a vanishing species in
this area. Its compact stature is accentuated by the sessile arrangement of
its alternating pairs of short, fleshy leaves and the lovely, pale mauve
blooms pushing out of the leaf axils. Rich, calcareous soil is required.

Paul Noell
Balto.  MD