Montgomery County's Blue Mash Nature Trail lived up to its billing as 
one of the county's best sparrow haunts today, 10/19.  I didn't 
arrive until almost 10 a.m., and it took me forever to walk the loop 
trail; every time I spished, sparrows emerged from the grasses and bushes.

Most common were SONG and WHITE-THROATED, with substantial additional 
numbers of SWAMP and FIELD,  2 WHITE-CROWNED,  and a single LINCOLN'S 
(great 'scope views).  As usual, there were lots of Towhees and a 
single Junco.  Not at Blue Mash, but at the nearby Mount Zion Park, 
was a small flock of CHIPPING SPARROW.

Other interesting birds were a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, a male 
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, a HOUSE WREN, a HERMIT THRUSH, 2 PURPLE 
FINCH, half a dozen RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and a late OSPREY.  The 
landfill pond had RUDDY DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK, and a 
single COOT, in addition to Mallards and American Black Duck.  The 
other, smaller pond had a PIED-BILLED GREBE.

Most intriguing was a Chickadee that I initially thought was a 
Black-capped, as it had substantial white on the wing coverts and was 
very "chestnutty" on the flanks; it gave the slightly hoarse 
"dee-dee-dee" of the Black-capped.  But the demarcation between bib 
and chest was clean, not ragged, and the tail didn't look long enough 
for a Black-capped.  I finally had to settle on an i.d. as a hybrid 
Carolina-Black-capped, although in truth I have next to no experience 
with chickadee hybrids. (I'd be interested in hearing from anyone out 
there in MDOsprey land about these hybrids.)

Conspicuous absences:  Gray Catbird and Palm Warbler.

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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