While visiting the in-laws in Arlington on Saturday, I managed to get out to two nearby Montgomery hotspots for a couple of hours.  I went to Seneca Lake/Black Hills Regional Park for the first time.  The Rt. 121 Bridge near Boyd was quite productive with nice waterfowl numbers.  Highlights include:
 
Seneca Lake
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Hooded Merganser - 14
Common Merganser - 34
Lesser Scaup - 3
Greater Scaup - 2
Canvasback - 13
Mallard - 13
Black Duck - 2
Ring-billed Gull - 1
Bald Eagle - 2
Red-shouldered hawk - 1
 
Also 3 American Coot and 1 Sharpie at the Black Hills Regional Park boat dock side of the lake.  Great location, lots of good habitat.  I can see why this is one of the premier hotspots in Montgomery County.
 
 
Next, stopped at Hughes Hollow for the Eastern Phoebe and whatever else was to be found, as I've never birded this site in winter.  Ran into Joanne Howl and family after waiting around and looking for the phoebe for 1/2 hour.  As I was heading out toward the conifers, I heard Joanne shouting, "The Phoebe is here!!", I sprinted back, only to learn that it had vanished.  Alas, it did not return as dusk settled in.
 
Consolation was to be had in that it was a fabulous winter's day with NO wind, crisp, clear air, and lots of other good birds including 3 WINTER WRENS; a Cooper's Hawk and Red-Shoulder both hunting along the wood/marsh edge; Brown Creeper, and Hermit Thrush. 
 
Good Birding,
 
Ross Geredien
Edgewater