I tried again this evening for the Common Moorhen at Schoolhouse Pond.  We've been there many times after this bird, and had no faith at all we'd get it.  The Wood Duck landed at the back of the pond, as they have so many times for us, and we got great looks of them flying in - no Moorhen.  On the platform, I was looking - and Jon, who has been chasing the bird with me, said "there it is" - very quietly.  Well, I did not immediately get on the spot and did NOT see the bird.  It had moved out of sight by the time I was able to get the location.  

After spending about 10 minutes looking carefully for it, I was starting to stew - after missing it so many times, to have my friend get it while I missed again.... wow.  I wasn't really ready for that!  

I was thinking about how birding is becoming about as relaxing as ... chess, maybe.  A great game, but I think I'd get ulcers if I did it all the time. 

And then, there it was.  Making haste through a small spot of open water - absolutely a Common Moorhen.  I called to Jon - he missed it.  But in the end, he relocated it (and I didn't see it then, either) - but we both got our bird.  

A great evening for waders, too - three Great Blue Herons, one Great Egret, about a half-dozen green herons and a nice flyover adult Black Crowned Night Heron. 

The dragonflies are wonderful there.  I was pointing out a beaver to my kids, with my finger in the air to show them the spot.  A dragonfly landed right on the pointer finger.  How fun! 

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM
West River, MD