I led a walk for the Nature Conservancy at Hughes Hollow/McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Montgomery County this gray Wednesday morning.  Not terribly birdy, and viewing conditions were less than ideal, but at least the rain held off.  (Nothing deterred the mosquitos however!).  Looking from the fields at the back of the second impoundment at dead snags in the impoundment, we had two Rusty Blackbirds perched in a snag (had other blackbirds in flight but difficult to identify), nice views of a female Merlin being harassed by Blue Jays (after it scared off the Rusties), and a cooperative adult Red-headed Woodpecker nearby.  No warblers (other than Yellow-rumped) or other late migrants.  Generally the usual suspects for mid-October.  A respectable 35 species.  A complete list from my eBird report is below.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

Hughes Hollow - McKee Beshers WLMA, Montgomery, US-MD
Oct 12, 2011 8:15 AM - 11:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments: Bird walk sponsored by the Nature Conservancy.
35 species (+2 other taxa)

Canada Goose 16
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Merlin 1
American Coot 1
Rock Pigeon 14
Chimney Swift 18
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 5
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 11
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
crow sp. 6
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 4
Eastern Bluebird 2
American Robin 2
Gray Catbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 11
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 7
Northern Cardinal 7
Rusty Blackbird 2
blackbird sp. 12

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