We don't do a lot of chasing. But when you got a shot at 2 of them close
together, the odds come out somewhere near worth the trip. So off we went.

To my knowledge nobody got the sparrow today. And that includes one of the
best birders in the world who was still there when we left. Doubt if it was
a lifer for him, but somehow he thought it was important for something. I
won't give his name but he has an equally famous brother birder here in MD.

As for us not-so-world-famous birders, we got the ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK! Yes,
one more biggie off the wish list. This one ranks almost as high as the
Goshawk that dodged us for years (or was it centuries?) We even drove around
Highland County VA hoping for a Roughie at Thanksgiving and managed to find
a Bald Eagle as a consolation prize.

We may try again for the sparrow if it shows up next week. Unfortunately the
bird might run when it sees the snow that's probably coming.

Merry Christmas to all. We're off to VA again but this time nothing as wild
as Highland County. Just someplace close to my Park. The one with all the
trout in it.

Jerry Tarbell
Rough-legged in Carroll County