During the 2001 May Count, the year before the Atlas, we heard a Screech 
Owl at a certain location in the Merkle WMA. After countless attempts at 
finding the bird again at the same spot during the next 5 years, we hit 
pay dirt tonight at ~ 9:15 pm; remarkably, during the heavy thunder and 
lightning of a passing storm. The owl, calling very softly, was also 
seen. The back-lit retinal reflection was a blue-green color.

There have been very few Screech Owl current-atlas records in PG County 
and nearly all have come from the same few observers, who have among 
them owled nearly all the county blocks. Assuming the observers' skill 
and diligence have not varied from block to block, this suggests that 
the low number of Screech Owls does not reflect insufficient coverage 
but rather, is actually due to a real scarcity of the birds.

We mention belatedly that on July 31 we recovered Swamp Sparrows at a 
place, accessable only by boat, where David Curson had reported them to 
us on July 7. Two singing males were heard. This was in marsh fully a 
mile from the nearest dry land, on the south side of the same bend which 
Mattoponi Creek debouches from on the north side - perfect habitat but 
far out of range. Yet, there have been suggestions before of Swamp 
Sparrows on the coastal plain outside Chesapeake Bay, some in remote 
corners of PG County.

-- 
Fred and Jane Fallon
Bowie MD