Hi Everyone,
 
My girlfriend Becky and I had the chance to do a bit of birding between Howard, Montgomery, and Frederick Counties today. At Violette's Lock, we enjoyed watching a pair of CASPIAN TERNs fishing near the Virginia side of the river, and were surprised to see at least two GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLs. A third gull was a candidate for a young LESSER BLACK-BACKED, but I couldn't be 100% sure due to the distance and lack of birds for size comparison. Along the C&O Canal near Violette's Lock, we had a pair of photogenic WOOD DUCKS, a YELLOW PALM WARBLER, and a singing LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH. The EARED GREBE was not spotted during our brief watch. A pair of COMMON RAVENs (P) were a surprise on Edward's Ferry Road, just north of White's Ferry Road. I'm not sure if they've been picked up for the Atlas yet in this block, but it's not too far from Sugarloaf Mountain. We also had a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER at the Mouth of the Monacacy, two HOUSE WRENs at Hughes Hollow (where we ran into Ed
 Lyon), and one PROTHONOTARY WARBLER singing along River Road. NORTHERN PARULAs and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERs were heard at most of our stops.
 
We saw a pair of Northern Water Snakes mating along the C&O Canal at Violette's Lock, and it seems the Eastern Garter Snakes emerged at Hughes Hollow very recently. Ed Lyon and I spotted at least six in one 30' area.
 
I've posted some fun new photos to my web site at http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html.
 
Have a great week!
 
Bill
 
Bill Hubick
Elkridge, Maryland
bill_hubick AT yahoo.com
<http://www.billhubick.com>