Yesterday, after seeing "our" RUBY THROATED HUMMER returning to our feeder, we headed out to Blackwater.  Despite the wind, we had some nice birds, including many FOYs.  Before Blackwater, we stopped at Pickering Creek in Easton.  Swallows were everywhere, where we had the usual TREE SWALLOWS and  BARN  SWALLOWS.  Also had my FOY CHIMNEYSWIFTS.   A couple of BLUE WINGED TEALS and GREEN WINGED TEALS with both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were present in the pond.  After a nice lunch at Easton, we headed out to Blackwater.  The woods near the beginning of the wildlife drive held PINE WARBLER and BROWN HEADED NUTHATCH.    A nice walk on the Woods Trail was birdy-we had WOOD THRUSH, YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK and WHITE WARBLER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and PILEATED WOODPECKER.  Along the drive, the lone WHITE PELICAN was still hanging around.  Near the Vistitor's Center, which was closed when we got there, we decided to park outside the gate and walk towards the building.  Was hoping for Grasshopper Sparrows which we had seen here last year, but it was not to be.  We did have some nice arrivals, nonetheless, adding ORCHARD ORIOLE, BOAT TAILED GRACKLE, WHITE CROWNED SPARROW and RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD to our days list.  Leaving the refuge and heading towards Maple Dam Rd., the light was dwindling and we were hoping to see or hear some night birds.  A pair of WILSON's SNIPE bid us farewell as we left the refuge.  Along Maple Dam Rd., we had SEASIDE SPARROW, and heard a rail.  I seen whatI thought may have been a SALT- MARSH SHARP TAILED SPARROW, but the brief glimpse and the fact that the bird was relentless in hiding despite pisshing, left it as a possibility only.  Also had some FORSTERS TERNS, zipping seemlessly in the wind.  Nice day, even in the wind.

Lin and Jim Just

Colora, Md