Today while patrolling various park within Anne Arundel County I saw the following birds of note:    

Beverly Triton Beach
    16 Red-breasted Merganser - Males in group were all displaying/courting the females...this 
        was quite the spectacle and I have never seen this before.

    2 American Crows gathering nesting materials


South River Farm Park
    1 pair of Gadwalls, my first AACo ones

    1 Red-tailed Hawk...sitting in an old osprey nest...though I do not think this bird was going 
        to use it for its own, as it was still in immature plumage.

B&A Trail Park Headquarters

    2 Coopers Hawks - 1 adult, 1 juvenile within 6 feet of each other...the juvenile was...and 
        this is the best way to describe it...chirping

    4 Red-shouldered Hawks aerial displaying.

    Side note:  the pond feeder at the office has become a local favorite amongst the raptors 
    as the party spot.  We have 4 species of hawks that like to hunt it and most decide to
    use it as a perch too.  Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered, Sharp-shinned, Coopers.

Also,  4 Ospreys along Route 50 near Rowe Blvd. and 1 at the Earleigh Heights Fire Hall...al using communication towers as nesting platforms.

One last comment....IMBD 2005 on Saturday May 14th, theme is Bird Collisions this year.  Check out your local chapters/parks/reserves/sanctuaries for events.  

=====================================================
Adam Smith
    
Baltimore MD/Severna Park MD