After seeing the Black-headed gull, I went down 83 a little way past the beltway (695) to see the Nutmeg Mannikin--no luck with it though.  I had had trouble figuring out just how to get to this park, and to the part it was being seen, so I thought it might help others who've never been there to put down what I found out, both online and from helpful people at the park.

First, on Google maps, you see two Robert E. Lee Parks, with a Jones Falls Park in between, and the boardwalk hadn't been built yet, it looks like.  The part where the Mannikin is is the southern part, between the Lake Roland dam and the Falls Rd metro station, along Lakeside Drive, but that's not too obvious in looking at it, tho the written directions are ok. (Once you find them.)
The Park just re-openned a couple or three months ago, I gather.

Anyway, from 83, get off a little way in from 695 at exit 10A, go left on Northern Pkwy a little (c. 2 blocks), then left on Falls Rd, which takes you back north about a half mile maybe (if you need a snack, there's a Whole Foods on the left along the way), and turn right on Lakeside Dr.  Caution--not Lake Avenue, which is just before Lakeside, and better marked.  Right after you turn, there's a sign for Robert E. Lee Park, and you can make a sharp right and head in there, which is still Lakeside.  OR, and this is better for where the Mannikin was seen a couple of days ago by a Park ranger I spoke to, you can go straight.  This parallels a bridge over the road you're on, and looks unpromising, but go on, and you discover the entrance to the light rail parking lot.  Turn right into it and go to the far end.  The boardwalk thru the woods starts there.  Also there's a tiny farm, with free range chickens and several trailers.  The bird has been seen down there, and in the grassy patch near a little building at the start of the boardwalk, recently.  Earlier, it was more toward the middle of the walkway, on the slope up to the tracks, as has been noted.  Bottom line, probably could be anywhere along there.

If you go up Lakeside, you go past the dam, and can park at the end of the road, then walk back a little and cross below the dam on what the map says used to be Hollins Road, but is now for peds.  The boardwalk is just beyond a little stone building, on your left.  If you instead climb the slope to your right, you go out on a sort of peninsula into Lake Roland, and reach a pavillion.  That's where people have been seeing the red headed woodpecker (immature), and in fact a couple I talked to saw it today.  I didn't have time to do that walk, but it all seems very nice, and I do plan to go back.  A nice birdy place, as many of you already know--just not quite obvious how to find anything there at first.  

Patricia Wood
Silver Spring

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