This evening I was able to find the Purple Gallinule at Hughes Hollow 
without too much trouble. I walked back up the road from the parking lot 
and took the first dirt path on my left. I heard it vocalizing right 
away and soon saw it walking around in the cattails. I left it around 
6:45pm. Thanks Dave!

An isolated thunderstorm was moving through the area so I decided to see 
what a river watch would turn up at Violette's Lock. Feeding in a mass 
of about 100 swallows (primarily Barns and Martins), were 17 Common 
Nighthawks. The insects were out in force and these birds were taking 
advantage. At one point, I watched a Bank Swallow chase a Nighthawk down 
the river, only inches from the surface. I'm not sure if I've seen a 
Nighthawk that low before. Not to be left out, it was also interesting 
to see seven Red-breasted Mergansers upriver around Riley's Lock.

Rob Ostrowski
Crofton, MD


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