Hi all,

After an unsuccessful chase yesterday evening, Barry and I arived to find a 
good contingent of Maryland's birders at Hughes Hollow and were 
informed (much to our delight) that the aforementioned Gallinule had 
JUST been seen, close to the road in and at the bottom of a small dirt 
path down to the impoundment. We walked down and almost 
immediately the bird flew, long legs dangling, into some spatterdock 
down amongst taller cattails. We had fair looks as the bird moved about, 
preened and called a couple of times, and we then relinquished our spots 
to newly-arriving twitchers. 

We stood talking a bit to friends, when Evelyn Ralston called us that the 
bird was now sitting up in plain view. And so it was, perched like some 
large, awkward purple blackbird on the tips of a cattail stalk, flapping, 
preening and pecking at the cattail tufts! Evelyn got some amazing photos 
which I hope she will share with all of us. This crippling view was the
icing 
on the cake of a new state bird for both of us. We missed the one here in 
(I think) 2004 as we were out of the country.

A short walk across the main dike garnered some raptors overhead 
(Red-tail, Broad-wing and two Cooper's), an unseen singing Prothonotary, 
and a Hooded Merg with 8-9 ducklings.

We then drove down to Seneca and Violette's, where it was breezy, sunny 
and very quiet except for local breeders. We did see a RAVEN en route 
(one was reported from Hughes not long ago, where are they breeding?) 
as well as a singing Prairie Warbler.

Good looks at Prothonotary at Seneca but otherwise, quiet and time to go 
home...

Great morning, great bird! Thanks to Dave Powell for the May treat!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD

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