I paid an early morning visit to Hughes Hollow - McKee Beshers WMA in 
Montgomery County today, hoping to catch up with the Connecticut 
Warbler and Lincoln's Sparrows seen there by others in  recent 
days.  Alas, no luck on that front.

However, the sunlit trees and bushes along the soy bean fields south 
of the impoundments held lots of migrants, including 11 species of 
warbler, a very good haul at this location.  In addition to common 
migrant warblers (like Magnolia, B&W, Redstart, and Parula), I had 
BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE (all males), TENNESSEE 
(nice close looks at an adult female), OVENBIRD, NORTHERN 
WATERTHRUSH, and (Western) PALM WARBLER, together with numerous 
Common Yellowthroats.

I heard 2 YELLOW-THROATED VIREOs singing, but didn't see them.

Surprise bird at HH was an early immature WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 
along the cross dike, where soon there were several hunters trying, 
but failing, to outsmart Canada Geese..

A bit later, at Violette's Lock on the C&O Canal, I had a first of 
fall (for me) BLUE-HEADED VIREO and heard a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 
calling.  There are no pine trees anywhere near.  This species does 
seem to be irrupting this fall.

The river at Violette's had nothing of great interest; no swallows at 
all, or Terns, or Gulls.

Mike Bowen
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD.

D.H.Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817-3845
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom