What a wonderful find - and here I've been looking up into pine trees
hoping to find this species all these years...


Tom & all,
    I am officially nominating this pair as Owls of the Year. Vote early,
vote often.

    I Just want to say how nice to was to get a lifer without having to
tramp thru some neighborhood and into yards, etc. These birds were very nice
to settle in an area where they are both visible and away from civilization
in one of our best green spots out here. Plenty of parking. I hope owlers
are taking the time to hike other parts of Morgan Run. Except for all the
horse dung its a nice place. I got my first Wilson's Warbler here a few
years ago. Some fellow named Ringler spotted that one, too.

    Let me also put in my 2 cents on Lilyponds. Gail summed up the access
yesterday. Other than Martins, she didn't say a whole lot about the birds.
This spot attracts a lot of nice migrants. A couple years ago, Tammy Schwab
and I pulled in and parked over near the pond next to the building and out
popped our life Least Bittern. We were actually after some night herons that
had been seen there. The herons were cooperative, too. Every year there are
Common Egrets here. One time along the creek in the back I was able to watch
some Woodies without spooking them. Eagles and Osprey are frequently spotted
here. This is one of the more reliable spots for Wilson's Snipe in spring
and fall.
    I don't mean to create a stampede to the place but the employees are
used to birders and know the place has a reputation with us. Be nice and buy
stuff. We have purchased a lot of our pond supplies and fish there. They
clean our water garden every year. Let's make sure we keep a good rep with
them.

    Jerry Tarbell
    Carroll County