Friday morning, September 17, my "local patch", Little Falls 
Parkway/Norwood Park in Bethesda was about as active with birds as it ever is.

Top birds there were 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH in the channelized stream 
bed and an immature female HOODED WARBLER in the clump of trees in 
the southwest part of the park.  Magnolia Warblers, American 
Redstarts, and Northern Parulas were numerous.  So were Gray Catbirds 
and House Wrens.

Today, September 16, at Lois Green Conservation Park in Gaithersburg, 
by the Air Park, there was less overall activity but more variety.

Top birds today were 2 PRAIRIE WARBLER, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, and a 
very early YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Again, Magnolia Warblers and 
Northern Parulas were quite numerous.  A PIED-BILLED GREBE was on the 
pond closest to the Air Park.

Just as I was leaving Lois Green, I heard BLUE GROSBEAKs calling, and 
saw four sitting together on a dead branch of a large tree by the 
parking area off Snouffer School Rd.  All were drab brown immature birds.

I only came across a single Eastern Bluebird.  The lack of Bluebirds 
is probably a consequence of the destruction by vandals of all the 
bluebird boxes in the park earlier in the summer. The boxes and their 
supports have been replaced, but that happened too late for 
re-nesting, apparently.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD



D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

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