Hi all

Not only was the Bittern still there today, there were (at least) two of 
them. I saw them on four occasions as I walked about, but on one occasion 
two flushed, flying in opposite directions.

Also, I saw a Peregrine at Oland Road.

I tried for the least grebe at Violette's Lock. I saw a pied-billed, and two 
grebes at a distance I'm guessing were horned grebes, transitioning into 
alternate plumage. Alas,no least that I could find.

Don Burggraf
Baltimore






>From: "Gail B. Mackiernan <>"              
><>
>Reply-To: "Gail B. Mackiernan <>"              
><>
>To: 
>Subject: [MDOSPREY] Bittern and many many Snipe at Lilypons today
>Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 17:16:50 +0000
>
>We had planned to start our Rock Creek birding today but got a very late 
>start when two of our dogs (including out 11-year-old who should know 
>better) dug under the fence (after deer?) and escaped the yard. The 
>5-year-old came right back but we had to spend about 30 minutes in the dark 
>before we found the old gal, who looked appropriately guilty.
>
>Having missed first light, we decided to go out to Lilypons and vicinity, 
>which proved a good choice. Not too many passerines in yet but we scored 
>well on water birds and a few early migrants:
>
>1 AMERICAN BITTERN, seen well and close
>1 Little Green Heron
>1 Great Egret
>(also a number of Great Blue Heron nests over the Monocacy above the 
>Lilypons bridge)
>over 50 Wilson's Snipe (!) -- we had flocks of 12 or so flushing and flying 
>around, really a remarkable sight.
>1 SORA (heard only)
>1 Coot
>2 Blue-winged Teal
>1 Eastern Phoebe
>2-3 Common Yellowthroats
>2 White-eyed Vireos
>2 Brown Thrashers
>scores of Purple Martins at the nest boxes, as well as Tree, Rough-winged 
>and Barn Swallows
>a smattering of Gnatcatchers and R-C Kinglets
>
>Driving down to Nolan's Ferry, a number of American Kestrels along New 
>Design Rd. (at the nestboxes)
>
>Nolan's Ferry -- a short walk yielded great looks at a perched Barred Owl 
>and 3 Rusty Blackbirds harrassing it, otherwise pretty quiet except for 1 
>Parula and a number of Myrtle Warblers singing.
>
>Happy Easter!
>
>Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
>Colesville, MD