Afternoon all,
 I had an appointment cancellation today which allowed me a free afternoon, so with nothing better to do I headed over to Piney Run lake to see if the juvenile Tricolored Heron might still be around. It was, between 2 and about 2:30 when I left. After making several false starts into the woods (bloody brambles!) looking for the trail, I finally was able to find it and made my way to the edge of the lake with views into the end of the lake as well as a small cove.The bird was very actively feeding, running along in search of fish. I managed a few cellphone-scope pictures.

I also had very nice looks at a calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo,as well as a female Belted Kingfisher, Great Egret, Green Herons, Great Blue Heron, Lesser Yellowlegs, and many geese and Mallards.
 
For those who might want to try for this excellent county bird, take White Rock Rd. (from either Liberty Rd or via Obrecht Rd from Rt 97) to Brass Eagle Ct. and park on the shoulder of Brass Eagle, near White Rock Rd. Walk across White Rock Rd to the first telephone pole you see, and walk left until the bushes give way to field (look for a bucket on the side of the road by the edge of the woods). Find the obscure trail that cuts through the goldenrod here to the edge of the lake, bearing left at the fork until you reach the lake. Don't do like I did and try to cut through the woods (at like all 4 small trails); it isn't worth the pain (and thorns). The trail itself is a bit overgrown but not too terrible to walk; I was wearing shorts with no problem. Look for the bird in the area of the lake with the aquatic vegetation and all the goose feathers on it, to the left of the cove with all the geese.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD




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