After dining graciously at McDonald's in Poolesville, Montgomery 
County, around noon today, November 5, we decided to go over to L.M. 
Stevens Park, where the larger and deeper of the two ponds there 
occasionally rewards the birder.  (Some birders may remember that 
this was the little urban park that hosted a Greater White-fronted 
Goose for a while last winter.)

Today was such a day, with a Canada Goose and 4 Mallards accompanied 
by a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON, 3 RING-NECKED DUCK and a single drake REDHEAD.

Best of all, a small group of blackbirds flew into the scraggy pine 
trees between the basketball court and soccer field.  They were noisy 
and gave scratchy calls the whole time -- only about ten minutes -- 
that they stayed there.  These birds gave excellent views and proved 
to be RUSTY BLACKBIRD.  A most unexpected place to see this 
increasingly uncommon species.

Michael and Joy Bowen
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

-- I use GoodSearch to benefit the American Birding Association --
http://www.goodsearch.com/ 

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