Hi Folks,

On Thursday, 18 November, Elaine found a SWAINSON'S THRUSH in our
Ferndale yard.  We had one a week or so ago, but this is the latest.  This
bird is taking advantage of our still plentiful pokeberries.

On Saturday, 20 November, I did the rounds through Anne Arundel County, with
the most notable find being four CATTLE EGRETs at Herrington Harbor.  One of
them was on the boardwalk to the north where the gulls and terns usually
sit.  It then walked onto the beach and then into some tall grass where it
joined at least three others whose heads could be seen atop the grass.  An
OSPREY flew over the same area, and I had only one FORSTER'S TERN.   The
thousands of ducks were pretty much as described by Frank Marenghi during
his visit earlier that morning.

Earlier in the day my most interesting find was a GARTER SNAKE that
slithered across my path on the Railroad Trail at Jug Bay Wetlands
Sanctuary.

I felt pretty smug about the Cattle Egrets and Osprey until I got home and
Elaine reported a flock of TWELVE CATTLE EGRETs flying over the yard, and
had an OSPREY as well.  Indicative of the beautiful, mild autumn we've been
having, I guess.

Yesterday (21 Nov) I took advantage of the last public day at the former
Naval Academy Dairy Farm near Gambrills in AA Co.  Notable were eleven
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWs (only one adult) and three FOX SPARROWs.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale
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