The Backyard Naturalist

11/02/2026

We will do our bird walk this coming Sunday at Blue Mash Nature Trail. We should get a good mix of songbirds, but, in addition, Pintails, widgeons, ruddies, ring-necks, and teals have already been seen. It should be a really great day for birding.

Bird Walk
Sunday, Nov. 8th
7:30 AM
Blue Mash Nature Trail

The bird walk this Sunday will be at Blue Mash Nature Trail in upper Montgomery County. It is possibly my favorite spots in the local area. It is located at 20600 Zion Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20882. Its history is somewhat complicated. Prior to the nature trail, it was the Oaks Landfill which closed in 1997. The name “Blue Mash” comes from the much older name of “Blue Marsh” which references the blueish colored clay all through the area. The area was inhabited by freed African Americans and became a stopover site for the Underground Railroad. While walking the property during our bird walk we should contemplate the history and significance of the trails we share with our ancestral brothers and sisters.

We will also share the trails with a variety of birds, some of them still migrating south and some newly arrived for the winter. In addition to our regular White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Winter Wrens, we may also see some Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, and Red-breasted Nuthatches due to an irruption caused by a lack of food sources in their usual area. We get to be the lucky beneficiaries.

We will meet by 7:30 AM in the parking lot. As usual, bring binoculars (I have loaners), water and bug repellent. The trail is almost two miles and is mostly flat. The long range forecast is for partly cloudy and about 40 degrees when we start warming up to the 50’s when we finish around 10:30ish.

Call or text Pete at 301-758-1420 with any questions.

11/02/2026

Our bird walk this morning produced 39 species which was just one short of our goal of 40. We got 3 out of 5 target birds, Purple Finch, Winter Wren, and Brown Creeper. The two we missed were the Pine Siskin and the Lincoln Sparrow. I apologize for not having photos. I neglected to check the battery in my camera which was close to dead and also neglected to bring extra batteries. Next Sunday we will go to Blue Mash Nature Trail. Stay tuned for details.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, Montgomery, Maryland, US
Nov 1, 2026 7:22 AM - 10:09 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.964 mile(s)
39 species

Canada Goose 31
Mallard 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 3
Black Vulture 2
Turkey Vulture 5
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 4
Blue Jay 3
American Crow X
Fish Crow X
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 2
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 4
Northern Mockingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 21
American Robin 12
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 7
Chipping Sparrow 1
Field Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 3
White-throated Sparrow X
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Northern Cardinal 4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S407248602

10/29/2026

We’re heading into Halloween weekend with a new award! 😃🏆🥰
A huge THANK YOU to all our neighbors for your support. You’re the best!! And if you need last minute Halloween flags or door banners, we’ve got you! 🎃👻🎃

10/26/2026

Bird Walk
Sunday, November 1st
Rachel Carson Conservation Park
7:30 AM (don't forget to set your clocks back Saturday night)

Rachel Carson Conservation Park in upper Montgomery County is located at 22201 Zion Road, Laytonsville, MD 20833. The park covers 650 acres of land mixed with heavy forest to open meadows and hosts over 6 miles of trails.

Most of our summer birds have left for their winter homes in the southern United States and Central and South America. At the same time our winter birds are arriving; birds like the White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We hope to see these birds plus others like the Savannah Sparrow, Purple Finch, Winter Wren, and Pine Siskin.

The trails are slightly hilly, but we walk slow so they should not be a problem. Our walk will cover about 1.75 miles and will last about 3 hours depending on what birds we see.

You will need water, bug repellent, and binoculars (I have loaners).

The long range forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a 10% chance of rain and temperatures from the low 50’s to mid 60’s.

Any questions, you can call or text my cell phone (301-758-1420).

10/25/2026

Another chilly morning for our bird walk this morning. Once again, we got all of our target birds; Ruby-crowned, golden-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush. Maybe we need to make our target birds more difficult to find. Next Sunday we will go to Rachel Carson Conservation Park. Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night.

Lake Needwood, Montgomery, Maryland, US
Oct 25, 2026 7:10 AM - 11:29 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.197 mile(s)
34 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 37
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
hawk sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 8
American Crow X
Fish Crow 7
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 6
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 2
American Robin 7
Cedar Waxwing 2
House Finch 1
Dark-eyed Junco 1
White-throated Sparrow 7
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Northern Cardinal 9

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S405324023

10/23/2026

Thought this might be helpful when trying to identify if the hawk is a Coopers or a Sharpie…

Our "tricky hawk I.D." photo, submitted by reader Kim Wegner, was split nearly half and half between sharp-shinned and Cooper's in the comments! Here's what Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, Birds & Blooms' birding experts, had to say.

"The tricky Cooper's/sharp-shinned hawk challenge is even tougher than usual in this fun photo! The head angle makes it hard to see the nape color or eye position, the legs are hidden by feathers (leaving only one foot visible), and the end of the tail is cut off. But the bird is an adult (with gray instead of brown above, and reddish barring below) and the bright colors make it a male (males are smaller and more colorful than females in both species).

Points for Cooper's hawk include the very dark top of the head; if it were turned to the side, we should see contrast between the blackish cap and gray nape, while sharp-shinned males are just blue-gray from the top of the head down the nape. The size of the eye suggests Cooper's; sharp-shinneds look very big-eyed, especially the males. The cheeks look grayish, which is more typical of Cooper's, while those of sharp-shinned often have an orange tinge.

Finally, although the tip of the tail is hidden, we can see that the outermost feathers are shorter than the central ones, creating a rounded or graduated shape. Sharp-shinned hawks, especially males, usually have very square-tipped tails. So we'll call it a Cooper's hawk, adult male, but it shows what a fun challenge these birds can be!"

10/23/2026

If you’ve been anticipating our restock from The Roving Hare, the wait is over! And if you’re not yet familiar with this local artist, come join the fan club! Seasonal cards and new stickers are added to the selection. See you soon!

10/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1PG3Rjs4rX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐦🍂 THAT LITTLE GRAY BIRD AT YOUR FEEDER MAY HAVE TRAVELED HUNDREDS OF MILES TO GET THERE!

Meet the dark-eyed junco, affectionately known as the snowbird. As autumn arrives across much of the United States, these little visitors begin appearing in yards, gardens, and beneath bird feeders.

But there's more to this tiny bird than its soft gray feathers. 👇

🌲 WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
Many dark-eyed juncos spend summer breeding in Canada and the northern forests before migrating south for winter.

❄️ WHEN WILL YOU SEE THEM?
In many parts of the US, juncos arrive in autumn and stay through the colder months, returning north as spring approaches.

🐦 HOW CAN YOU RECOGNIZE ONE?
Look for a compact bird with a gray or brown body, a pale belly, and distinctive white outer tail feathers that flash when it flies.

🔎 A SURPRISING DETAIL:
Junco migration patterns can differ by s*x and region. In some populations, females tend to winter farther south than males.

💚 HOW TO MAKE YOUR YARD WELCOMING:

🌾 Scatter appropriate birdseed on the ground or offer it in a low tray.

🍂 Leave a brush pile or dense shrubs where birds can shelter from predators and harsh weather.

🐈 Keep cats indoors to help protect visiting birds.

A little patch of your garden could become an important stop for these tiny winter travelers.

Have you spotted your first junco this season? Look for that little gray body and the flash of white tail feathers—and tell us when your snowbirds arrive! 👇

10/19/2026

Many of our summer birds are headed south and some of our winter birds are arriving. As evidenced by our walk last Sunday, we managed to see or hear some of both. Hopefully, we will have a similar experience this coming Sunday. We will meet by 7:30 AM to take advantage of the early morning feeding frenzy. Sunrise is at 7:28 AM so it should be interesting.

Bird Walk
Lake Needwood
15700 Needwood Lake Cir, Derwood, MD 20855
Sunday, October 25, 2026
7:30 AM

This week we will return to Lake Needwood which is in the heart of Montgomery County. The trail is approximately 2 miles and is mostly flat and mostly paved. It has become a bird magnet over the years. Notable bird sightings include a White Ibis, Bobolink, and a Black-crowned Night Heron. You never know what you will find at Lake Needwood, but we love surprises.

We will start our walk at 7:30 AM
to take advantage of the early morning bird feeding frenzy. We will meet in the main parking lot at the south end of the lake. Look for the bulletin board at the bottom of the lot.

As always, I throw out a teaser with my picks for target birds. For this walk I pick the Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Just these birds alone would make for a good Ebird list.

The long range weather report says that Sunday morning will start off sunny and probably in the low 40’s rising towards the mid 60’s.

Bring binoculars, bug stuff, and water.

Call or text Pete Givan 301-758-1420.

10/19/2026

whichWe had a very cold start to our bird walk this morning, but the birds were very active. Franny and I had 5 target birds in mind; Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-winged Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush. We managed to get all five. I think that's a first. In total, we got 42 species including 4 warblers, a Common Raven, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew by so fast I couldn't get a photo. Next Sunday we will go to Lake Needwood. Stay tuned for more information.

Wheaton Regional Park--Shorefield/mini-train tracks/Pine Lake, Montgomery, Maryland, US
Oct 18, 2026 7:44 AM - 10:52 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.049 mile(s)
42 species

Canada Goose 41
Mallard 8
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 1
Carolina Wren 3
Gray Catbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 4
Hermit Thrush 2
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
Chipping Sparrow 2
Field Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4
White-throated Sparrow 15
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Cape May Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S403446052