Sightings on Sligo Creek

Here is the place to post your sighting of animals and of plants in the Sligo Creek watershed or in the Park itself and to peruse what others have seen and reported. It is a fascinating list, growing year by year. No need to feel shy; what is of interest to you is what is fine to post, and interesting behavior and surprising locations are useful to record. Thanks for taking part - as a reader or as a reporter - in the web of life in Sligo Creek.

Spring Migrant
Bird Sightings

Native Plant
Inventory

Photos by
Don Olson

What	Where	When	Reported by	Comments
Five small turtles and one duck (I think it was a large wood duck chick)	The turtle pond upstream from Forest Glen Rd	11:10am, Fri, July 16, 2010	Don Olson	As I approached the pond I saw the duck but was not able to get a shot or ID it. After walking on the path a few more feet I saw the turtles sunning themselves. Photo by Don Olson
A White Tail Doe and two Fawns	Down stream from Dennis Ave	11:40am, Fri, July 16, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking on the path I saw the fawns then spotted the Doe feeding in the woods. I never could get a good shot of one of the fawns. Photo by Don Olson
Two Water Snakes	At the base of the old water works dam just upstream from Maple Ave	12:50pm, Wed, July 7, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking upstream from Maple Ave. I noticed the two snakes, got one shot of both, then the larger one swam off. Photo by Don Olson
Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron	Upstream of the Carroll Ave. bridge	10:45am & 11:25am, Sun, July 4, 2010	Don Olson	The first time I saw the heron I got one blured shot then my battery went dead, during the time that I was changeing it the heron cought a fish that appered to be between 4 to 6 inches and ate it. On my return walk I saw the heron again and got some shots of it. Photo by Don Olson
Two Snapping Turtles and six Wood Ducks (two adults & four large chicks)	The turtle pond upstream from Forest Glen Rd	2:45pm, Sat, July 3, 2010	Don Olson	One of the snappers, as it has in the past, seemed to be as interested in observing me as I was it. The ducks were very shy and I could not get very close to them. Turtle Photo by Don Olson Ducks Photo by Don Olson
Ebony Jewelwing (damselfly)	Amid sunny shrubs next to & above the Creek	5:30pm, Thu, July 1, 2010	Laura Mol	On the paved path where it runs closest to the Creek just above the Dennis Rec Center bridge--shrubs & trees just one layer wide beside steep creekbank (silky dogwood, arrowwood viburnum, MF rose, wild cherry, mulberry). Damselfly was flitting about in the strong but dappled sunlight of late afternoon, from across the playing fields on the other side of the path: a well trafficked area. From Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies, a male ebony jewelwing (without female's white marks) on all-black wing, slender and iridescent green-blue body. Web Photo
Spicebush swallowtail (butterfly)	Creekside, just north of Dennis Rec Center bridge	5:45pm, Thu, July 1, 2010	Laura Mol	Resting on arrowwood viburnum, then flitting about amid narrow border between paved path and creek. "Rare" in Sligo according to Jason Hall's checklist. Micro-habitat detail as in Ebony Jewelwing sighting above. Web Photo
A Black-crowned night-heron eating a northern water snake	Downstream from the Jackson Ave. footbridge	2pm, Thu, June 10, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking down the path I saw the bird and was getting ready to try to get a shot when I saw that it had caught a snake and seemed to trying to kill it. As I watched it kept shaking & flipping the snake around until it grabbed its head and swallowed the snake whole; the snake was still alive. Album by Don Olson
Beaver (maybe two, maybe one)	Downstream just past the bridge at Colesville Road	8 pm in late May	Lena, Teri, and Sandy West	Spotted it south of the Creek, on the upstream side of Colesville close to the sidewalk. It went down to the creek into what looks like a lodge under tree roots on the left side as viewed from the Colesville bridge looking downstream.
BIRDS: Red-winged Blackbirds, Barn Swallows; BUTTERFLIES Silver-Spotted Skipper; Tiger Swallowtail, Spring Azure; FLOWERS: Common Milkweed, Dogbane; ALSO: deer beds	Stormwater pond just south of the Beltway and adjacent grassland	Mon, June 7, 2010	Michael Wilpers	Swallows zoomed over the pond, either to drink or bathe, they do both in flight. Blackbird pair were vociferously defending the southern end of the pond (presumably a nest). Milkweed is on the pond's east bank, dogbane along the west. Large expanse of deer beds were at the south end of the grassland. Photos by Michael Wilpers Silver-Spotted Skipper on Milkweed Spring Azure on Dogbane Tiger Swallowtail on Milkweed Swallow over the Pond Deer Beds in Grassland
Northern water snakes interacting, probably mating	From the Maple Ave. bridge	2pm, Sat, May 29, 2010	Don Olson	As I was crossing the bridge I noted the gathering below me. The the large one (may be a female) swam off folowed by one of the medium ones. They stayed in twined for several minutes then split. The large one swam to a rock in the sunlight and seemed to be resting there. The smaller ones stayed around for a short time then they left. Photo 1 by Don Olson Photo 2 by Don Olson Photo 3 by Don Olson Photo 4 by Don Olson
Two small turtles and a snapping turtle	The turtle pond upstream from Forest Glen Rd	3pm, Tue, May 25, 2010	Don Olson	The small turtles were 6 inches and 4 inches in size. In the past I have felt that a snapper was observing me as I observed it. This time the snapper seemed to be getting aggressive about where I was standing. The turtle came from the middle of the pond to the shore below me. Then it started to came out of the water until I stepped back a few steps and it went back down. I then stepped closer to the water, it came back out of the water all the way until I backed up a good ways, then it went back in the water. Small Turtles Photo by Don Olson Snapping Turtle Photo by Don Olson
Eastern Wood Pewee, Wood Thrush	Woods to the west of the Dennis Ave. tennis and basketball courts	Mon, May 31, 2010	Michael Wilpers	Even though both were singing from high up in tall trees, the Wood Thrush nests mostly in shrubs and saplings, especially dogwood, between 5 and 8 feet up. The Wood-pewee nests in tall trees, near the end of long branches, about 22 feet high on average. (Source: Robbins & Blom, Atlas of Breeding Birds of Md. and DC, 1996)
Black-crowned Night-heron, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, swallows; Canada Geese with goslings; Mallard pair; Snapping Turtle	Western-most of the Wheaton Branch stormwater ponds	Mon, May 31, 2010	Michael Wilpers	The heron, night-heron, and snapper were all on the shady, west bank of the pond. The swallows were diving low over the water, making a small splash as they presumably picked up insects directly from the surface. The blackbird was singing from the end of a branch about 20-feet up on the west bank. Night Heron Photo by Michael Wilpers Blackbird Photo by Michael Wilpers Blue Heron Photo 1 by Michael Wilpers Blue Heron Photo 2 by Michael Wilpers
Snapping Turtle; Oregon-grape (invasive)	Along Wheaton Branch, between Woodlawn and the Sligo hiker-biker trail	Mon, May 31, 2010	Michael Wilpers	The Snapping Turtle was sunning itself on a big tree that had fallen across the stream. The Oregon-grape (Mahonia bealei) was in full-fruit on the west-facing bank of the stream. It is considered invasive in some southeastern states. Turtle Photo by Michael Wilpers Oregon Grape Photo by Michael Wilpers
Two pair of Geese with three goslings each	The holding pond upstream from Univ. Blvd.	2pm, Tue, May 25, 2010	Don Olson	Photo 1 by Don Olson Photo 2 by Don Olson
Great Blue Heron	The holding pond upstream from Univ. Blvd.	2pm, Tue, May 25, 2010	Don Olson	Photo by Don Olson
Red-shoulder hawk on the nest with its two chicks	Near Kemp Mill strip mall (upstream from Univ. Blvd.)	2pm, Tue, May 25, 2010	Don Olson	When I first arrived the adult was standing on the nest it then flew away and the chicks come out of the nest. Photo 1 by Don Olson Photo 2 by Don Olson Photo 3 by Don Olson Photo 4 by Don Olson
Northern Water Snake	From the footbridge downstream of the water works dam (upstream from Maple Ave.)	4pm, Mon, May 24, 2010	Don Olson	Photo by Don Olson
Geese nesting and what I am told is a red-shouldered hawk on its nest	The geese were on the holding pond upstream from Univ. Blvd. The hawks nest is near the Kemp Mill shopping strip mall.	2pm, Thu, Apr 29, 2010	Don Olson	The goose on the log and the one on the shore were in the same spots for over 15 minutes. Goose Photo by Don Olson Hawk Photo by Don Olson
Five small turtles and one Snapping turtle	The turtle pond upstream from Forest Glen Rd	2pm, Wed, Apr 28, 2010	Don Olson	The larger one was between 5 or 6 in. & the small one 3 or 4 in. Small Turtle Photo by Don Olson Snapping Turtle Photo by Don Olson
Yellow Crowned Night Heron	In the field in Hillwood Manor Park - downstream from New Hampshire Ave	6:45am, Wed, May 26, 2010	Kerry Stone	The YCNH was walking around the grass - grazing. I guess picking off insects. The Heron is there often.
More Yellow Crowned Night Heron Babies	Large nest over the bridge adjacent to the Dallas Avenue parking lot	Fri, May 21, 2010	Debra Benator	A second nest and a third Dallas avenue nest "completed" directly over the parking lot! See the first nest sighting 4 rows down in this table.
Mountain laurel in full bloom	On steep, rocky, north-east facing hillside downstream from New Hampshire Ave	Sat, May 22, 2010	Michael Wilpers	This same slope is also full of Chestnut Oak Photo by Michael Wilpers
Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese with goslings, Barred Owl calling, carpet of Jack-in-the-Pulpit & Skunk Cabbage, Yellow-Green Sledge & Blue-Eyed Grass	Kemp Mill. Waterfowl around the stormwater ponds. Jack-in-the-Pulpit (only a few left in flower) & Yellow-Green Sedge in the floodplain below the berm; Blue-eyed Grass & Barred Owl at the split in the hiker-biker trail	Sat, May 22, 2010	Michael Wilpers	Yellow-Green Sedge Photo by Michael Wilpers Jack-in-the-Pulpit Photo by Michael Wilpers Blue-eyed Grass Photo by Michael Wilpers Skunk Cabbage Photo by Michael Wilpers
Barred Owl	Wooded area of Wheaton Branch near Woodman Drive, Silver Spring	Thu, May 20, 2010	Anthony Brown	This is my first sighting in eight years of living in the vicinity. Photo by Anthony Brown
BABIES!!! Yellow Crowned Night Heron	Sligo Creek Parkway, nest over the creek just beyond the second bridge downstream from Colesville Road	Wednesday evening May 19, 2010	Debra Benator	I thought that the female (presumed female) looked awkward sitting on her eggs. When she stood to stretch....lots of chirping and at least a couple of bouncing tiny heads! Perhaps someone had a better look when dinner arrived?? The other three nests (two near Dallas, one over the road next to 9101 Sligo Creek) have a female on eggs, though no baby sighting yet.
A wild turkey and then a red fox	In my backyard near Flower and Wayne just up the hill from Sligo Creek	April 2010	K. Faust	First I saw the turkey, then went out to see where it went, and saw the fox.
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Fishing in Sligo Creek - about 100 to 200 yards north of Colesville Rd	7am, Sat, May 15, 2010	Gretchen Stiers	This bird also seemed shy and kept turning its head towards me until I walked away. Black Crowned Heron Photo by Don Olson
Yellow-crowned and a Black-crowned Night-Heron	In section 6 - between Colesville and Forest Glen Roads	7:20am, Fri, May 14, 2010	Jesse Friedmann	I saw both these birds on my bike ride this morning! The Yellow-crowned was spotted near the parking lot on a grassy area just after bridge 6D. The Black-crowned I spotted in the creek just after bridge 6E. ( I was on my bike heading in the direction of Colesville Rd., on the path) Black Crowned Heron Photo by Don Olson Yellow Crowned Heron Photo by Don Olson
Bay-breasted warbler	Between Colesville and Forest Glen Roads	Wed, May 12, 2010	Madere Olivar	I haven't seen one for a few years. More information
Black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)	Outside our front door in Hillwood Manor, across the street from the Hillwood Manor Park (Sligo Creek, Section 1)	Tue, May 4, 2010	Gil Winters	This 3 foot snake slithered its way in a small compartment under our screen door. It got stuck and I had to call MoCo animal control to remove it. The snake was stuck under the door for at least 2 hours. The animal control officer said that state law forbid him from relocating the snake too far from where he found it (questionable), but he released the snake across the street in the park, about 100 yards away. Photo 1 by Gil Winters Photo 2 by Gil Winters Photo 3 by Gil Winters From Jo Arnone: That is a beautiful little Eastern Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta. Look carefully and you'll see the white under the chin (the underside has lots of white in these guys) and tiny white specks showing on the top otherwise it is a gloss black. For most of its range, Adult Eastern Rat Snakes appear shiny black. However, in bright light a faint blotched pattern may be seen. Their chins and throats are white, changing to checkerboard black and white and then to cloudy gray on the belly. Black specimens, formerly known as Black Rat Snakes, are given a subspecies name of obsoleta.
Black crowned night-heron	Perched on a branch about 15 feet above the creek, about 150 yds north of Colesville Rd	6pm, Wed, Apr 28, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	It is somewhat shy, each time it realized we were observing it, it flew a short distance away. Our neighbors said they also saw a black crowned night-heron along the creek, not far from the the tennis courts below Colesville Rd, earlier in the week. Photo by Don Olson
Mother fox and her 8 cubs	Sligo Creek Park behind Top of the Park development near Piney Branch Rd and Sligo Creek Parkway	Sunset, Fri, Apr 30, 2010	Martine	She played with them and they played with each other. She laid down in plain view in the open clearing for over an hour.
Red Fox	Hillwood Manor Park downstream from New Hampshire Ave	5:30pm, Sun, Apr 25, 2010	Kerry Stone	Beautiful fox. Coat looked good.
Northern dewberry and sweet vernal grass	Pepco corridor, along the steep slope on the southwest side of the creek	Sat, Apr 17, 2010	Michael Wilpers	In the 1970s and 80s, neither of these plants blossomed until May (Brown & Brown, Woody Plants of Md; Herbaceous Plants of Md). A thin vine along the ground, N. dewberry occurs in most sections of Sligo but non commonly. Rubus species in general rank at the top of summer foods for wildlife (Martin, American Wildlife & Plants). Sweet vernal grass is not native, but apparently not invasive. Dewberry Photo by Michael Wilpers Vernal Grass Photo by Michael Wilpers
False Solomon's seal; star chickweek; fall cankerworm caterpillar; a profusion of chestnut oak seedlings; tiny sassafras leafing out	Between New Hampshire Ave. & the Pepco corridor, along the north-facing slope	Fri, Apr 17, 2010	Michael Wilpers	Thanks to John Lill for identifying the caterpillar. The eggs overwinter in bark crevices. After hatching, the young "drop down on silken threads to be carried off by spring breezes." (Wagner, Caterpillars of E. No. America) Solomon's Seal Photo by Michael Wilpers Chestnut Oaks Photo by Michael Wilpers Baby Sassafras Photo by Michael Wilpers
Nesting red-shouldered hawks	Between University stormwater pond and path into the Kemp Mill shopping center	Fri, Apr 23, 2010	Leah Haygood	Nest is easily visible from a spot close to the intersection of the bike path and the path into the Kemp Mill shopping center. There's a FOSC box right at that intersection. To see the nest, go about 15 paces to the left (south) if you're looking at the FOSC box. There are a couple of big openings in the trees. Look into the woods to the right (west) and about 3/4 of the way up the biggest oak tree in view. There's a nicely shaped tree crotch with a big old nest in it. Easily visible with the naked eye, but binocs would help to see the hawks, who are mostly kind of hunkered down. Web Photo
White-eyed vireo	Sligo Creek bike path north of University at intersection of path toward Colt Terrace field	Fri, Apr 23, 2010	Leah Haygood	Conspicuous, sings loudly all times of day. Reliably found in the swampy area where the Colt Terrace path intersects the bike path (north of University, past the shopping center, there's a bike path map right at that intersection). There's been one there every year for the past several years. Web Photo
Barred Owl	Corner of Park Crest Dr and Devon Rd, above the creek between Piney Branch and Park Valley	8am, Sun, Apr 18, 2010	Nan Shellabarger	I hear him often in the evenings but this is the first time I've seen him. There was a pair of crows harrassing him as he just sat there and ignored them. Photo by Nan Shellabarger
Red Fox	Close to Sligo Creek at the intersection of Three Oaks Drive and Manchester Rd	7pm, Thu, Apr 15, 2010	Gretchen Stiers	The Fox seemed to be an adult and once it sighted us, it went into the wooded area that is adjacant to Seven Oaks Park. About a month ago, I also saw a Red Fox crossing Franklin Ave close to where it intersects with Leighton Ave. National Geographic Web Page about the Red Fox
Barred owl	Between Forest Glen and Dennis Ave	noon, Thu, Apr 15, 2010	Madere Olivar	Unusual high noon sighting of a gorgeous barred owl at its day roost. We were quite close before we became aware of it. Web Photo of Barred Owl
2 nesting pairs of Yellow Crowned Night Herons	Between Wayne Ave and Colesville Rd	6:30am, Wed, Apr 14, 2010	Gretchen Stiers	One pair was seen near the corner of Three Oaks Rd and Sligo and the other before the bridge near the tennis courts.
Star Chickweed, Trout Lily, Spring Beauty, Mayapple	Lower Long Branch (south of Carroll Ave.)	Mon, Apr 12, 2010	Michael Wilpers	The Star Chickweed is on a steep, west-facingn slope. This wildflower was recorded in only four sections of Sligo in our 2003 inventory,three of them near lower Long Branch (which wasn't surveyed). The Mayapple in the photo is the only one I could find in flower among a bumper crop fighting through dense English ivy throughout the floodplain. Chickweed and Trout-lily were very limited, Spring Beauty widespread. Mayapple Photo by Michael Wilpers Star Chickweed Photo by Michael Wilpers
Small Male Pileated Woodpecker	About a block upstream of the Carroll Ave. Bridge	1:30pm, Sun, Apr 11, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking upstream on the road I saw a flash of red. It seemed to be a smaller male than ones I have seen before. Photo by Don Olson
Northern water snake	the Wheaton Branch, just upstream of its confluence with the Sligo mainstem	8:30am, Thu, Apr 8, 2010	Barbara Gottlieb, with Laura Mol	I picked up a rock from the creek bed, exposing a juvenile snake. Probably 5-6" long. Clealr brown and tan bands, the tan bands looking a little hour-glass shaped. (Color and pattern are clearest in young snakes.) After I picked up its rock, it swam/slithered into a hole in the creek bottom.
Box turtle	Section 4 (Piney Branch to Wayne)	morning, Thu, Apr 8, 2010	James Anderson	This is the first box turtle I've seen in Sligo Creek Park. Lynette Scafitti, a Natural Resouece Specialist for the Parks, says there is a great deal of variations to their color — some are mostly orange as this fellow while other are mostly dark brown with just limited, light patterns of orange. The big ID characteristic of a box turtle is to pick it up and look at the plastron (lower shell) It will have a hinge about 1/4 to 1/3 the way down its shell from its head. The hinge allows the turtle to be able to fully close itself into the shell — the various species of box turtles are the only type of turtle that can do that! Unfortunately their population is on a drastic decline. Photo by James Anderson Jo Arnone says, "The eyes look flashy orange to me. That means a male."
Two yellow crowned night-herons at nest	Above the footbridge near the parking strip at the foot of Dallas Ave. (upstream of Collesville Rd.)	4pm, Wed, Mar 31, 2010	Don Olson	There has been a nesting pair of herons in this location for about three years now. Photo 1 by Don Olson Photo 2 by Don Olson
Yellow crowned night-herons, courting and mating	Just up from where Three Oaks Dr intersects Sligo Creek Pkw, in the tree where two herons had a nest last year	5pm, Sun, Apr 4, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	The male made some gestures with a twig and then approached the female. they preened a bit, and then the male flew off in a tight loop around the tree and returned to the female and mounted her. the routine seemed to be repeating when we left. Photo by Alan Abrams (through spotter scope)
Medium-sized beaver	Under the bridge at Park Valley Rd	8:30am, Thu, Apr 1, 2010	Holly Syrrakos	I knew there was a beaver around because I saw the small trees being cut, especially after the big snows. I finally saw the actual creature!
Snapping turtle	On a sandy bank of the creek, about 50 yards downstream from Flower Ave.	Wed, Mar 17, 2010	Anne Gray Liversidge	Photo by Anne Liversidge
Screech owl	Flower Ave and Sligo Creek Pkwy near pedestrian bridge	Starting on Fri, Mar 12, 2010	Anne Gray Liversidge	Photo by Anne Liversidge
2 great horned owls	upstream from Park Valley, just before the first bridge	8pm, Wed, Mar 24, 2010	Kit Gage	In silhouette, I saw two great horned owls, first one saying its usual call (who cooks for you, ooowe do). then the second one came in and called to the first and they flew around each other, singing 6 quick even toned hoots and a toowheeoo ending, back and forth for a time. Swooping and diving and flying around. Web Photo
Yellow-crowned night-heron	Between the tennis courts and playground between Piney Branch and Wayne	Mon, Mar 22, 2010	Jim Anderson	The bird initially flew out of the tree by the old nest above the bridge onto the bank of the Creek. Photo by Jim Anderson
Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Bullfrog	Kemp Mill stormwater ponds	6-7pm, Sun, Mar 21, 2010	Michael Wilpers	This Bullfrog calling is 2-3 weeks earlier than during our FrogWatch monitoring in 2005 and 2006. The Red-shouldered Hawk came from up-stream, flew about 20-feet high over the pond, and perched in the woods south of the berm about half-way up a tall tree. These hawks breed in Sligo. The Heron flew off from the woods west of the ponds and headed south. They breed along the Bay, but not in Sligo.
2 wood ducks (one male/one female)	Neighborhood downstream from New Hampshire Avenue	Early morning, Mon, Mar 15, 2010	Kerry Stone	Web Photo
Falcon	Along Comstock Branch between Piney Branch Road and Boulder Ave.	1pm, Fri, Mar 12, 2010	Mike Livingston	Large brown and white falcon flew downstream, perched on a limb for a minute or two and took off upstream. I saw a similar bird on the grounds of Washington Adventist Hospital last December 31.
Pileated Woodpecker	Just outside the beltway along Sligo Creek Pkwy, on Sidney Road (which is two blocks in from Sligo)	Afternoon, Fri, Jan 22, 2010	Sherrell Goggin	There were actually two of them flying together. I had never heard of these birds before, so it definitely caught my eye, looking like some prehistoric bird in flight! Photo by Sherrell Goggin
Two Wood Ducks	In the creek, just above where Three Oaks intersects the Parkway (.3 miles downstream from Colesville Rd)	6:50am, Wed, Mar 10, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	A male and a female paddling in the creek. As we approached the bank, they took wing heading downstream.
Two Kestrels	NW cornice of the Nurses Associating building, at Ellsworth and Georgia Avein Silver Spring	7:25am, Wed, Mar 10, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	We have been sighting these birds for a few weeks now, mostly along the cornice of the Lee Building at Colesville and Georgia. Once or more, we've noticed them breakfasting on small birds.
Two Red Shouldered Hawks	412 Ellsworth Drive (300 yds west of the Creek and just downstream from Colesville Rd)	7am, Wed, Mar 10, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	We've been watching this pair for a week, building a nest in the pine tree in the front yard of 412 Ellsworth. This morning, one of the pair was working on the nest, and the other breakfasting on a small furry critter, up in a tree near Dale Drive.
Eastern Screech Owl	Heard calling from high up in the woods on the NE side of the hiker-biker trail near the county line downstream from New Hampshire Ave.	6pm, Mon, Mar 8, 2010	Michael Wilpers	I heard a Screech Owl calling from the same location late one spring night in 2005.
At least 25-30 stumps of tree saplings recently downed by beaver	On either side of the hiker-biker trail, just downstream from the last bridge above the county line downstream from New Hampshire Ave.	Mon, Mar 8, 2010	Michael Wilpers	Beavers are strict herbivores and subsit, in wintertime, on the inner bark, twigs, and buds of trees they cut down and drag to the water's edge. (In fall, they're stored underwater near their lodges, stuck into the mud.) In a stream as wide and fast as Sligo is here, a beaver is not likely to build a dam but rather a "bank burrow" or "bank lodge" dug directly into the stream bank, with its entrance hidden below the water's surface. A single beaver will down on average one tree every two days, suggesting that this individual has been here since about Christmas. Hopefully, it will feed on all the trees already downed by the blizzards!
White-tailed Deer	In a backyard at Crosby and Pin Oak, one block from Park	Sat, Jan 9, 2010	Chris Swarth	Three bucks searching for food and completely unafraid as I took the photo from my car. Photo by Chris Swarth
Male and female Wood Duck	On the creek near the soccer field by the golf course	Sat, Feb 27, 2010	Chris Swarth	A sign that spring is just around the corner despite the snowy weather. I've seen pairs with broods here in the past, so they probably nest in a tree along this stretch of the creek. Web Photo
Snowdrops blooming (Galanthus) The First Flowers of 2010	Upstream of the playground at the foot of Heather Ave	2:20pm, Tue, Feb 23, 2010	Don Olson	I had first seen them in Jan. before they opened up. Went back after the snow and there they were. Snowdrops are native across Europe, Asia, and Eastern Russia to northern Syria. They are valued bulbs because of their early blooms but naturalize a little too easily in meadows and woodlands. They are considered invasive and toxic and have colonized in many U.S. states where they are considered invasive alien flora. Photo by Don Olson
Four White Tail Deer	On the hillside downstream from Domer Ave	1:15pm, Sun, Feb 21, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking up the road a dog was barking at some thing on the hill side. As I got closer I saw the 4 deer, only got a good shot of one. Photo by Don Olson
Two White Tail Deer	On the forested hill side upstream of the Carroll Ave. Bridge	12:30pm, Sun, Feb 21, 2010	Don Olson	They were feeding up on the hill side. I could only get a good shot of one of them. Photo by Don Olson
Two Male Mallard Ducks	In the creek near the playground at the foot of Heather Ave	2pm, Fri, Feb 19, 2010	Don Olson	As I was walking up the path by the playground I saw the 2 swimming downstream, I could only get shots of one of them. Photo by Don Olson
Pair of hawks	Near Long Branch, at the corner of Maplewood and Holstein	Sun, Feb 7, 2010	Michael Wilpers	First one hawk flew in, then the second one joined it. I don't know which species, but I'd never seen two hawks perched together before.
Barred Owl	Long Branch Park, behind intersection of Garland and Jackson	Evening, Sun, Jan 31, 2010	Jane Harman	We have heard two of these calling to each other last summer and fall, in large trees between the creeks (LB and Sligo). Last night was the first I'd heard him over Long Branch, and with the full moon over the snow it was quite impressive. Web Photo
Coopers Hawk	Tree next to Long Branch footbridge at Jackson Ave	Summer 2009	Jane Harman	Got within 20 feet and had a very good view of him with binoculars. Web Photo
Blue Heron	A rock in the creek under the powerlines just upstream from E-W Highway	Mon, Jan 25, 2010	Kristin Zimmer	Web Photo
Red fox	On the hill across from the stone bridge at Park Road - in my front yard	Fri, Jan 1, 2010	Maxine	I have also seen many deer right here.
Likely mink tracks	On a deep snowbank below the first bridge downstream from New Hampshire Ave	Sun, Dec 20, 2009	Michael Wilpers	Looking downstream from the bridge, toward the right bank, I saw a narrow sliding path in the deep snow, descending directly into the creek. Above the path were various paw prints and a second, shorter slide. Sent photos to Rob Gibbs at M-NCPPC who replied, " . . . very interesting . . . by the location, the fact that there were slide marks in places and the 2x2 pattern make me think mink." This is the second set of snow prints from the area that Rob has tentatively ID-ed as mink. Photo 1 by Michael Wilpers Photo 2 by Michael Wilpers
Red tailed hawk	above Dennis Dr and below the footbridge to the wetland area	dusk, Fri, Jan 1, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	It flew up from the creekbed and perched on a low branch for a while; then flew to the ground and scratched in the dead leaves. Perched again and returned to the ground. Repeatedly pecked at its feet, apparently feeding on some small prey. Photo by Michael Wilpers
Possible great horned owl	Viewed from the trail midway between the soccer fields and Colesville Rd--the bird was flying west and out of sight over the homes beyond the park	dusk, Fri, Jan 1, 2010	Alan Abrams and Janet Kinzer	Janet first noticed several deer on the west slope dashing about; then noticed a bird with a great wingspan (perhaps 50"-55") flying away. I saw the bird from behind in silhouette and noted wide, flat wings (slightly arched at the connection to the body) and stiff wing beats. Deer continued to seem agitated for moments afterward.