The highlight from my lunchtime walk around Schoolhouse Pond was a Philadelphia Vireo foraging in the understory of the woods immediately adjacent to the path along the back side of the pond.  I got good views of this bird as it foraged low and close to the path.  Also present in the immediate vicinity were several Catbirds, 2 American Redstarts, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and an empid species.  This group of birds was along the path immediately after leaving the boardwalk (while walking counterclockwise around the pond).  This morning, I also had a female Yellow Warbler and 2 Black-crowned Night Herons.  The night herons were on logs lining the edge of the pond early this morning, but as I approached they flushed and returned to their usual tree (near the short boardwalk spur to the office townhouses).  The path around the pond is pretty heavily covered with mud from the hurricane and it was pretty mucky from last night's showers.  I knew to wear my hiking boats, but the people walking in white tennis shoes weren't making out as well.

Fred Shaffer
Crofton, Anne Arundel


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