I was at Hughes Hollow from 7:25 to about 10 am this morning and did not see or hear the Virginia Rail found yesterday. �Birds I did see include a distant Red-headed Woodpecker, a Yellow-throated Vireo singing a song that was not hoarse, two pairs of Orchard Orioles, a pair of Baltimore Oriole. pair of gnatcatchers building a nest, two female Hooded Mergansers, three Great Egrets, and an adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron. �These birds were all seen from the main dike as well as the dike separating the two western, smaller impoundments. �While on the latter dike, I heard a distant Least Bittern calling from the southwest impoundment (the one with the many dead trees). �
At about 1 pm (or 11 am?) or so I was at Violette's Lock and saw a male and a female Common Merganser swimming together in the rapids. �
Later still I was near the intersection of West Offut and Mount Nebo roads and I saw four male Wild Turkeys walking near the road, acting somewhat wary. �
I returned to Hughes Hollow and once more did not connect with any rails. �I then went to the place off Riffle Ford Road where John Hubbell had found Virginia Rail and also didn't note any rails. �There was some sort of Frisbee throw tournament going on in the woods in the park, including bursts of loud applause. �At 5 pm I called it a day and went home. �
Rob HiltonSilver Spring