In a message dated 10/29/2004 1:12:33 PM Eastern Standard Time,
 writes:

There  are actually three ponds -- the one you mention near the start of the
trail  (if you walk along Mt. Zion Rd away from the car park), one which  is
viewable after a short walk on a faint trail which goes left from the  gate
at the maintenance facility (go along the chain link fence), walking  this
time up the gravel road from the car park -- this is where the White  Ibis
was this summer -- and another pond behind the maintenance yard which  is
unviewable from the trail but which (we are sure) contains goodies! Lots  of
Killdeer, anyway.




Jerry,
 Don't judge too harshly from only a one hour walk around the "mash".  Lots
of great birds have already been found here, and I'm sure many others will
turn up. Too bad you missed the other big pond, since this is where all the
waterfowl usually hide. And the one which is not visible is a sewage settlement
pond, where I am certain there are (or were) some good shorebirds  recently.
It is a shame it is not visible, but nevertheless it does draw  birds. As the
habitat grows up and fills in, it will only get better. Except for  the
maintenance buildings, the landfill is hardly noticeable as such, and last  winter we
had a pair of Short-eared Owls and many Harriers hunting the property,  as
well as a reported Rough-legged Hawk.

I have a few spaces left for my Nov. 6 MOS walk next weekend, and I'd  be
glad to show you the big(ger) picture. And, FYI, the road is Zion Rd.,  not Mt.
Zion Rd. The original town name was Mt Zion, and there is still a church
nearby with that name.

I am leading a combo-walk for The Backyard Naturalist and ANS Youth group
tomorrow and we will be doing the "monster mash" for Halloween!

Good birding,

Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
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