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9 May Possible Neotropic Cormorant near Harper's Ferry [Matt Hafner ] 9 May night hawks over Silver Spring [sally wech ] 9 May cockatiel? ["Cavigelli, Michel" ] 9 May New Yard Bird Patapsco Sykesville [Felicia Lovelett ] 9 May night migrants [Matt Hafner ] 9 May Columbia Worm-eating Warbler, shorebirds [Jim Wilkinson ] 9 May Jug Bay notes [Jeff Shenot ] 9 May N. Arundel: 5/8/08: Least Terns return, Blackpolls, etc. [Matthew Grey ] 9 May Help leading trip [Stephen Horvath ] 9 May Re: Night Migration [Patty Craig ] 8 May night migration [Matt Hafner ] 8 May Greenbury Point Nature Center, 05/08/08 [Kevin Graff ] 8 May Susquehanna State Park [Lin Just ] 8 May Soldier's Delight NEA and Baltimore [David Smith and Melody Nevins ] 8 May Re: Elllicott City birds - there's no place like home [Jenny McClintock ] 8 May BOBOLINKS and MEADOWLARKS, Beltsville ["Derek C. Richardson" ] 8 May Ft. McHenry National Monument, 05/07/08 [Kevin Graff ] 8 May Upper Watts Branch Park for 5/8/08 [Paul O'Brien ] 8 May Re: ID Help needed (Audio Clip) - FINAL [Ryan Farrell ] 8 May White Crowned Sparrow [Saundra Byrd ] 8 May Elllicott City birds - there's no place like home [Holly Waddell ] 8 May Re: Rock Creek Park, DC, Thur., 5/8 [Robert Parsons ] 8 May Rock Creek Park, DC, Thur., 5/8 [Wallace Kornack ] 8 May little bennett chat [John F Stup ] 8 May Fort Smallwood Park 5/7/2008 Mississippi Kite [] 8 May Fort Smallwood Park, 5/6/2008 [] 8 May Re: No LeConte's this morning [Matt Hafner ] 8 May Re: No LeConte's this morning [Ross Geredien/Good Migrations ] 8 May Wood Sandpiper continues in DE [Paul Pisano ] 8 May Grasshopper Sparrows and Horned Larks at Ag. Hist. Farm Pk, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co., 5/7 ["FELLEY, JAMES" ] 8 May No LeConte's this morning [Matt Hafner ] 7 May C& O Canal / Great Falls [Donald Sweig ] 7 May Ferndale Big Day, 5/7 [Stan Arnold ] 7 May Jarrettsville yard birds, 05/06/08 [Kevin Graff ] 7 May FW: DC Area, 5/6/08 [Norm Saunders ] 7 May Influx of Gray Catbirds/Bethesda [diane Ford ] 7 May LeConte's Sparrow at Greenbury Point [Matt Hafner ] 7 May Extralim reported DE WOOD SANDPIPER [Ben Weinstein ] 7 May Bobwhite [Fred Burggraf ] 7 May Paper Mill Flats 5/7/08 [Ben Weinstein ] 7 May Migrants @ Greenbury Pt this morning [Bill Schreitz ] 7 May Yellow-breasted Chat, Hughes Hollow, 5/7/08 [Dalcio Dacol ] 7 May Re: Jug Bay marsh birds ["CURSON, David" ] 7 May Rock Creek Park, DC., Wed., 5/7 [Wallace Kornack ] 7 May Re: 54 species morning walk [Warren Strobel ] 7 May Re: N. Arundel: 5/7/08: Late White-crowned Sparrow [Monroe Harden ] 7 May Purple Finches at Cylburn Arboretum, 5/7 [John Dennehy ] 7 May 81st Dorchester County May Bird Count, complete list, May 3 [Henry Armistead ] 7 May N. Arundel: 5/7/08: Late White-crowned Sparrow [Matthew Grey ] 7 May Blue Mash Nature Trail, Wed. 5/07 [Mark England ] 7 May Hummer and Cape May Warbler [MICHAEL SPEICHER ] 7 May Ravens and osprey at BARC (Beltsville) ["Cavigelli, Michel" ] Subject: Possible Neotropic Cormorant near Harper's Ferry From: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:20:09 -0400 I just received a call from Jim Stasz.? He and Ed Boyd are viewing a very small cormorant that shows characteristics of Neotropic Cormorant on the Potomac River between Rt. 340 and the Shenandoah River.? Here is the information that I got off the phone: sitting on a snag with 3 Double-crested Cormorant Very small subadult plumage that is uniform brown on the front yellow bill proportionally long tail There is a pull-off on the VA side of westbound Rt 340 where they walked to the river and are currently viewing the bird.? Walking on the C&O Canal on the MD might also be an option.? Good birding! Matt Hafner Bel Air, MDSubject: night hawks over Silver Spring From: sally wech <aixxss AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 07:42:56 -0700 Hi All: Last night about 5:30 I saw about 5 night hawks coursing over my neighborhood. Was great to see and hear them. Sally Wechsle silver spring, MD ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: cockatiel? From: "Cavigelli, Michel" <Michel.Cavigelli AT ARS.USDA.GOV> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:00:50 -0400 Hi All, Yesterday I did a double take when I saw three pigeons on a wire on Research Rd. at Beltsville Ag Res. Center (BARC). One of them was very pale; at first I thought it was just a rock dove variant but as I got closer, this bird had a long tail and a crest. After doubling back I got a better look at it and it looked almost identical to a grey cockatiel, which is a common pet (and common escapee?) but it was about the size of the pigeons. Details: overall light grey body, large white wing patch, yellow head with crest (no distinct orange facial patch), parrot beak, lighter tail than the web shows for the "normal" grey cockatiel and much larger than all the cockatiels I could find on the web. Any thoughts as to the species? Is it just a grey cockatiel on hormones? Michel ------------------------------------------- Michel A. Cavigelli Research Soil Scientist Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab Animal and Natural Resources Institute Bldg 001, Rm 140 BARC-West 10300 Baltimore Ave. Beltsville, MD 20705 301-504-8327 office 240-304-9480 cell 301-504-8370 fax -------------------------------------------Subject: New Yard Bird Patapsco Sykesville From: Felicia Lovelett <flovelett AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:32:00 -0400 During the brief break in rain, an EASTERN MEADOWLARK is singing now on top of a sycamore tree in my drive. I hope that he will stay & nest in my pasture. Felicia Lovelett Sykesville, MDSubject: night migrants From: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:08:15 -0400 I was able to stay out for a little bit last night, but I stopped before any heavy rain hit.? I've had some really good listening nights when there is a light drizzle. I was out from about 10:20-11pm (with a short break to post) and again from 11:20-11:30pm.? Numbers represent "calls" not necessarily birds and the larger numbers are estimates.? Green Heron - 1 Spotted Sandpiper - 5 Solitary Sandpiper - 1, both Solitary and Spotted are very consistent migrants here Black-billed Cuckoo - 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2 Veery - 100 Swainson's Thrush - 15, surprisingly low for a good night Gray-cheeked Thrush - 2, still early, I would expect larger numbers next week Wood Thrush - 10 Scarlet Tanager - 4 Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 150 Grasshopper Sparrow - 1 Indigo Bunting - 4 Blue Grosbeak - 2, I consistently get small numbers in Bel Air despite not many nesting to north of here Baltimore Oriole - 1, I haven't heard many of these at night unidentified thrush/grosbeak-type notes - 100, often distant unidentifed warbler-type notes - 100, very interesting to me that I heard very few Blackpoll/Yellow Warbler-type "zeep" notes Matt Hafner Bel Air, MDSubject: Columbia Worm-eating Warbler, shorebirds From: Jim Wilkinson <wilkinson8 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:48:18 -0400 Yesterday after work (5/8) I saw my first Semipalmated Plovers of the season (3) at Forebay Pond upstream from Lake Elkhorn. They were joined by 4 Least Sandpipers and 2 Solitary Sandpipers with a Spotted Sandpiper near the bridge at Lake Elkhorn. A highlight for me this morning (5/9) was a Worm- eating Warbler near Forebay. Also this morning I only saw the Solitaries and Spotted; the mudflats the smaller birds were using are submerged after the heavy rain. Jim Wilkinson Columbia, MDSubject: Jug Bay notes From: Jeff Shenot <jugbay AT MSN.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:46:13 -0400 Greetings! I love this time of year! I had yesterday (May 8) off and went out on a pontoon boat trip with Greg Kearns (Jug Bay at Pax. River Park). We had a very high tide due to prevailing winds, and intermittent light rain, so conditions were not favorable for finding marsh birds but we still managed to find Sora, Marsh Wrens and a few shorebirds. Shorebirds were mostly fly-bys, except at one dock we had a great view of both Yellowlegs species as they rested there, providing an excellent side-by-side comparison for the group. I think the highlight was a pair of Barred Owls that responded to a mouth call from Greg. They came in separately right up to the boat and perched about 40 and 60 feet away, respectively. They made a great variety of calls and went through the entire Barred Owl repertoire. I really regret that I did not have my camcorder as it was a rare photo opportunity to catch them calling like that at such close range. A common bird, yes, but it was an exceptionally exciting performance to experience! After the trip I made a short loop around the Black Walnut Cr trail and picked up a few more nice migrants, the best being a brilliantly colored Cape May Warbler singing persistently and in plain view at the parking lot! 83 species (not bad given the weather) 7 to 11 am Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Sora 1-2 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Lesser Yellowlegs 10 Solitary Sandpiper 5-6 Spotted Sandpiper 7 Peep sp. (2 Calidris sp.; seen very briefly before landing out of sight) Other sandpiper sp. (7 in very brief fly-by; suggest dowitchers) Common Snipe 2 Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Barred Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Acadian Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula 10+ Yellow Warbler 2 Cape May Warbler 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 7 Blackpoll Warbler 8 American Redstart 5 Prothonotary Warbler 2 Ovenbird 6 Northern Waterthrush 2 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat abundant Hooded Warbler 3 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Summer Tanager 3 Scarlet Tanager 6 Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch Hopefully this weather front will bring more excitement for tomorrow's May Count, but even if it is an average day I am jazzed for it! Jeff Shenot Croom MDSubject: N. Arundel: 5/8/08: Least Terns return, Blackpolls, etc. From: Matthew Grey <matthew.grey AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:25:08 -0400 Hello all. The Least Terns have returned over the past week and are starting to gather at their local nesting location in the Brandon Woods business park. The birds nest atop the FILA building (which is now divided in half and also used by a company called Metrologic). Total of 8 birds were seen on the evening of 5/8 and that included two courting pairs. Highlights: Brandon Woods Business Park: Little Blue Heron: 2 pond edge LEAST TERN: 8 Cedar Waxwing: c. 15 House Wren: 1 Yellow Warbler: 1 Prairie Warbler: 1 Black-and-white Warbler: 1 trees by pond Common Yellowthroat: 2 Brandon Woods Fields: (off of Perryman Ct): Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 BLACKPOLL WARBLER: 3 Black-throated Green Warbler: 1 trees facing Solley Road Common Yellowthroat: 2 Indigo Bunting: 1 Blue Grosbeak: 2 Orchard Oriole: 2 Also, the White-crowned Sparrow I reported earlier this week from my yard in still here as is a single White-throat. Matt Grey PasadenaSubject: Help leading trip From: Stephen Horvath <falcon85 AT PRODIGY.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 08:20:17 -0400 I am leading a group of kids birding at Lilypons at 4:00 pm on Saturday I know the time is bad but I didn't choose the time. I was wondering if anybody would be willing if its not raining to come and help me with leading the trip I know this is short notice, and I understand if nobody can make it. My plans were to see if anything was in the big puddle, and look at the Heron Rookery and find whatever birds are on the way. Please reply offline if you cn help it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Stephen HorvathSubject: Re: Night Migration From: Patty Craig <eyrie AT HUGHES.NET> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 07:40:48 -0400 Matt, Could you tell us what time you were out? Patty Craig St. Mary's County, MDSubject: night migration From: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 22:25:44 -0400 Hans Holbrook called me a few minutes ago to tell me that thrushes were moving in good numbers over Hagerstown.? I just stood outside for 5 minutes here in Bel Air and had 75+ calls!? Identified were Veery, Swainson's Thrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.? Some unidentified seep notes were also noted.? If conditions are good for listening in your area, I recommend staying up a little later tonight.? I was planning on getting to bed early... Matt Hafner Bel Air, MDSubject: Greenbury Point Nature Center, 05/08/08 From: Kevin Graff <whitemarlin2001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:57:00 -0700 Hi all,
With George Jett, Fred Fallon and couple others. No
Leconte's. Earlier, I went to see the Wood Sandpiper
at Broadkill Beach area after dawn for an hour and
half. Provide many of us good look up close. Few
shorebirds and waders out there.
05/08/08 - 920am-1055am
Greenbury Point Nature Center, Bullard Blvd.,
Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co., MD
WEATHER: MC, 70-72 degrees, WSW 8 mph- WSW 10 mph
OBSERVERS: 5
Mallard - 5
Great Blue Heron - 3
Green Heron - 1
Black Vulture - 3
Turkey Vulture - 4
Osprey - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 2
Herring Gull - 1
Mourning Dove - 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Chimney Swift - 2
Eastern Kingbird - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1
American Crow - 3
Tree Swallow - 5
Barn Swallow - 6
Tufted Titmouse - 1
Carolina Wren - 1
Eastern Bluebird - 2
American Robin - 6
Gray Catbird - 25
Northern Mockingbird - 5
European Starling - 4
Northern Parula - 1
Yellow Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 4
Yellow-breasted Chat - 3
Chipping Sparrow - 2
Field Sparrow - 1
Savannah Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 4
Blue Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 8
Common Grackle - 17
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2
Orchard Oriole - 1
American Goldfinch - 1
House Sparrow - 2
SPECIES: 43
TOTAL BIRDS: 151
MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel - 2
White-tailed Deer - 5
REPTILES
Eastern Painted Turtle - 1 (tiny one on roadbed)
AMPHIBIANS
Southern Leopard Frog - 1
BUTTERFLIES
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - 1
Orange Sulphur - 1
American Lady - 1
Pearl Crescent - 2
Kevin Graff
Jarrettsville, MD & West O.C., MD
WhiteMarlin2001 AT yahoo.com
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Subject: Susquehanna State ParkFrom: Lin Just <crazy4wildbirds AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:55:09 -0400 Not a big fallout of birds at Susquehanna, but my husband Jim and I had some good birds nevertheless. We birded the picnic area, walked the road, Rock Run area and the ridge, the latter being the most productive. We had a total of 14 warblers. The most notable birds: NORTHERN PARULA YELLOW WARBLER YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER YELLOW THROATED WARBLER BLACKPOLL WARBLER BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER AMERICAN REDSTART WORM EATING WARBLER OVENBIRD LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH KENTUCKY WARBLER COMMON YELLOWTHROAT YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT EASTERN KINGBIRD EASTERN WOOD PEWEE SUMMER TANAGER BALTIMORE ORIOLE -including the one Jim and I affectionately call the Tijuana Oriole-he sounds like he's singing the cuckoo-ratcha song-maybe he wintered in Mexico! ORCHARD ORIOLE ACADIAN FLYCATCHER GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER YELLOW THROATED VIREO WHITE EYED VIREO WARBLING VIREO RED EYED VIREO INDIGO BUNTING GREEN HERON RED SHOULDERED HAWK-being harrassed by a MOCKINGBIRD-kept on dive bombing the poor hawks tail until he got tired of it and flew off! SOLITARY SANDPIPER Lin Just crazy4wildbirds AT yahoo.com Colora, MdSubject: Soldier's Delight NEA and Baltimore From: David Smith and Melody Nevins <mln_cheetahgirl AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:40:53 -0400 During lunch today, I briefly birded the grounds at my work in South Baltimore along the Middle Branch. Was surprised to find among the normal "city" birds a WILSON'S WARBLER in the brush near the river. Other highlights included Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Scarlet Tanager. Stopped by Soldier's Delight around 6pm in search of the Hooded Warblers (no luck), but did find a number of warblers along the Mine Trail, including a male BAY-BREASTED WARBLER about halfway along the trail between the large mine opening and the first intersection. He was fairly cooporative (surprisingly) and provided good looks. Other warblers included: Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Prairie Warbler Pine Warbler BAY-BREASTED WARBLER Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat Also heard a Wild Turkey and had both tanagers as well. David C. Smith dcs_wamphyri AT yahoo.com Owings Mills, MDSubject: Re: Elllicott City birds - there's no place like home From: Jenny McClintock <jennymcclintock AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:30:05 -0400 Holly wrote: >"A catbird is imitating the whistle my husband uses to call our dog. The >dog is going crazy." Our mockingbird has been doing a smack-on imitation of the local Red-Shouldered-Hawks. I can just imagine all the other little birds ducking wheneve he does that little tune ... and then I imagine the mockingbird snickering! He also does a wonderful rendition of a car alarm! I just love those feathered mimics! Jenny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Holly Waddell"Subject: BOBOLINKS and MEADOWLARKS, Beltsville From: "Derek C. Richardson" <dcr AT ASTRO.UMD.EDU> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:33:10 -0400 The BOBOLINKS reported on MDOSPREY a few days ago were easy to find this afternoon near the Beltsville water treatment plant in PG County (my GPS indicated that the spot was around 7007 Beaver Dam Rd, about 50 ft east of the intersection with Sheep Rd). A nice flock of 50 or so males and females either chattering in the treetops or foraging in the tall grasses on the opposite side of the road from the plant. Scope recommended but not essential. As a bonus, there were 2 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS among them as well, one singing loudly. Also plenty of swallows (I found TREE and BARN but didn't search too carefully; I only had 20 mins). Enjoy, D -- Derek C. Richardson, Laurel, PG County, MD http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/Archives/Photos/birds.htmlSubject: Ft. McHenry National Monument, 05/07/08 From: Kevin Graff <whitemarlin2001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:22:07 -0700 Hi all,
Baltimore Bird Club's 4th in a series weekly evening
birdwalk. Next evening walk on May 14th at 6pm.
05/07/08 - 6pm-810pm
Ft. McHenry National Monument, Constellation Plaza,
at end of Fort Ave, Locust Point section of
Baltimore, MD
WEATHER: Fair/PC, 80-73 degrees, SSW 10 mph- SSE 8 mph
LEADER: Jim Peters
OBSERVERS: 13
Canada Goose - 2
Wood Duck - 1
Mallard - 6
Horned Grebe - 1
Double-crested Cormorant - 6
Great Blue Heron - 1
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1 (adult)
Osprey - 3
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
Spotted Sandpiper - 2
Ring-billed Gull - 13
Herring Gull - 16
Great Black-backed Gull - 3
Forster's Tern - 1
Rock Pigeon - 1
Mourning Dove - 6
Chimney Swift - 5
Eastern Kingbird - 2
Fish Crow - 2
crow sp - 1
Tree Swallow - 8
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6
Barn Swallow - 7
House Wren - 1 (seen/heard by few)
Marsh Wren - 1 (heard)
Veery - 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 1 (seen by one observer)
Wood Thrush - 2
American Robin - 11
Gray Catbird - 10
Northern Mockingbird - 2
Brown Thrasher - 1
European Starling - 13
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1
American Redstart - 1
Ovenbird - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 8
Hooded Warbler - 1 (seen by few)
Eastern Towhee - 1
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 5
Northern Cardinal - 4
Red-winged Blackbird - 13
Common Grackle - 16
Orchard Oriole - 2
House Finch - 2
House Sparrow - 6
SPECIES: 47
TOTAL BIRDS: 206
MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel - 9
REPTILES
Eastern Painted Turtle - 1
BUTTERFLIES
Cabbage White - 2
Kevin Graff
Jarrettsville, MD & West O.C., MD
WhiteMarlin2001 AT yahoo.com
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Subject: Upper Watts Branch Park for 5/8/08From: Paul O'Brien <PObrien776 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 16:32:58 EDT A frustrating but productive morning. Wind kept the birds in from the edges
where they sang and hid. It literally took an hour to see the Cape May and
Nashville Warblers. But we had 14 species of warblers, the best total so far
this year.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Swainson's Thrush 2
Wood Thrush 2
Nashville Warbler 2
Northern Parula 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Magnolia Warbler 3
Cape May Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Blackburnian Warbler 2
Black and White Warbler 2
American Redstart 3
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat 3
Wilson's Warbler
Scarlet Tanager 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting 2
Baltimore Oriole
Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD
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Subject: Re: ID Help needed (Audio Clip) - FINALFrom: Ryan Farrell <birdman AT FARRELLFAM.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:30:07 -0400 Hi everyone, I wanted to put a final post in about the audio clip I asked for help with on Tuesday. Thank you, thank you again to everyone who has contributed their input. It seems that the general consensus appears to be Cerulean Warbler. Blackburnian is out, Parula most likely too, the only hangup is a few with concerns that it could be a Cerulean-like song from a B-T Blue Warbler. My mentor, Tim Spahr, up in Massachusetts, sent me the following on the Cerulean from the Peterson Warbler Guide: "Song is a series of buzzy chee or zeep notes, shifting to an ascending and accelerating buzzy series and ending in a high, prolonged buzz. The effect is of a buzzy song rising in three stages: zeep zeep zeep zeep zizizizi zeee! zray zray zray zray-zray zreeee! or burr-burr-br-br-br-brbree?The song is easily confused with some songs of Northern Parula, but the terminal high-pitched buzz of the Cerulean *is diagnostic*." (his emphasis). Somewhat humorous, this morning in birding Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, (hoping for a fallout and indeed finding 21 species of Warblers), Tim heard a BT-Blue doing a Cerulean-like song, now he's second guessing himself. =) Also, I had a few people asking what equipment I use for recording. Last April (just before migration) I picked up an Olympus WS-300M for about $60. I don't use any fancy external mic, just the built-in one. It's great because you just pull the battery part off and plug it into your computer's USB. I highly recommend it, for the price, I don't know of a better option. I used to try to write down unfamiliar songs I heard with a combination of phonetic sylables and spectrogram-like bars (indicating coarse speed, frequency). This has helped me ID some birds that I would've remained unidentified without it. The Paint Branch Trail has been pretty good this week, up until today which was relatively slow. There was the (presumably) Cerulean Warbler on Monday and my first-ever Nashville Warbler yesterday. Other new arrivals include 2-3 Y-B Chats (one audible from home), Blue Grosbeak on both Tuesday and Wednesday and it seems that a pair of Warbling Vireos may be nesting. There's an Acadian Flycatcher off the loop above Cherry Hill Rd who also seems to have settled in. Good Birding, Ryan Farrell College Park, MDSubject: White Crowned Sparrow From: Saundra Byrd <byrdwatcher5 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:05:42 -0400 Hi Everyone, The White Crowned Sparrow showed up here at work in Annapolis at lunchtime . Eating birdfood that i scatter under a tree .I got a picture . Brightened my dreary day. Saundra Byrd byrdwatcher5 AT yahoo.com baltimoreSubject: Elllicott City birds - there's no place like home From: Holly Waddell <greenheronholly AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:22:11 +0000 All this week I have had the most wonderful birds in my tall flowering oaks. The problem is I am late for work every day because I can't tear myself away. Employers should have special dispensation for birders during migration. Highlights include: Blackburnian warbler (my first) Wilson's warbler (my first) Black throated green warbler Yellow warbler Blackpoll warbler Baltimore Oriole Rosebreasted Grosbeak Many Yellow Rumped Warblers Wood Thrush Brown Thrasher Other items of note: I had a carolina wren successfully launch 4 babies from a nest in my kayak. A catbird is imitating the whistle my husband uses to call our dog. The dog is going crazy. Bats have returned to my yard. Hopefully, they will use the house we put up last fall. Holly Waddell Ellicott City, Howard County MDSubject: Re: Rock Creek Park, DC, Thur., 5/8 From: Robert Parsons <rparsons AT EXCLUSIVERESORTS.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:00:44 -0600 My son and I will meet you in the morning at between 6:45 am and 7:00 am. Where exactly should we meet you? Thanks so much. Robert Parsons. ----- Original Message ----- From: Maryland Birds & BirdingSubject: Rock Creek Park, DC, Thur., 5/8 From: Wallace Kornack <wallace AT KORNACK.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 12:45:43 -0400 David Gerston, Jim Lemert and I toured the Ridge, Maintenance Yard and Nature Center at Rock Creek Park this morning. We saw or heard 16 warblers---first spotted mostly by David---and 53 species total. There were far more birds singing than we could spot. It was also a nice morning for Thrushes and Tanagers. Highlights: Blue-winged Warbler 2 Northern Parula 6 seen, ~ 6+ heard Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 Cape May Warbler heard Black-throated Blue Warbler 8 seen, 5+ heard Yellow-rumped Warbler 30+ Black-throated Green Warbler 1 seen, 10+ heard Palm Warbler 2 BAY-BREASTED WARBLER Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart 2 Ovenbird 1 seen, 2 heard Louisiana Waterthrush heard in maintenance yard Common Yellowthroat 2 CANADA WARBLER Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo heard Eastern Wood-Pewee heard Acadian Flycatcher heard Great Crested Flycatcher 3 Yellow-throated Vireo 2 heard Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird 2 Veery 1 Swainson's Thrush 3 seen, 2 heard Wood Thrush 8 seen, 5 heard Cedar Waxwing 5 Scarlet Tanager 13 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Baltimore Oriole 4 Indigo Bunting 4 House Finch Plus the usual Have Fun Birding! Wallace Kornack Washington DCSubject: little bennett chat From: John F Stup <jfstup38 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 12:35:42 -0400 after 3 days of mostly of the numerous local nesting birds, i finally saw 2 non-locals, a chestnut-sided warbler and 2 female rose-breasted grosbeaks. 2 new potential nesters was a redstart and for the 1st time after missing 2 years or more was a chat calling and (singing?) in the bushy part of the 2cd field from the parking lot which i also viewed. could someone who has seen and/or heard the hooded warblers tell me where the locations in the park are so i will know where to look. thanks, johnSubject: Fort Smallwood Park 5/7/2008 Mississippi Kite From: susiericc AT COMCAST.NET Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 16:09:55 +0000 Fort Smallwood Park Pasadena, Maryland, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 07, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 7 29 489 TV 30 345 5800 OS 1 80 515 BE 3 9 65 NH 1 13 140 SS 2 264 1881 CH 3 75 451 NG 0 0 0 RS 0 0 192 BW 2 88 218 RT 2 24 232 RL 0 0 1 GE 0 0 0 AK 0 0 414 ML 0 7 47 PG 0 0 5 UA 0 4 16 UB 1 2 13 UF 0 1 3 UE 0 0 0 UR 2 5 9 MK 1 1 1 Total: 55 947 10492 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 EST Total observation time: 9.25 hours Official Counter: Marty Miller Observers: Dan Stewart, Hal Wierenga Weather: Mostly sunny; temperatures in low 80's; excellent visibility; winds, variable, SE,SW, 5 - 15 mph Raptor Observations: At 3:55 pm EDT, we had our first Mississippi Kite of the season Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sue Ricciardi (susiericc AT comcast.net) Site Description: Fort Smallwood Park is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Patapsco River, 11 miles south of Baltimore, MD. Best winds are from the southwest. The Park is closed to visitors on Wednesdays. Directions to site: For directions and more info, go to http://www.mdbirds.org/sites/mdsites/hawks/hawkwatch.html BV Black Vulture; TV Turkey Vulture; OS Osprey; SK Swallow-tailed Kite; MK Mississippi Kite; BE Bald Eagle; NH Northern Harrier; SS Sharp-shinned Hawk; CH Cooper's Hawk; NG Northern Goshawk; RS Red-shouldered Hawk; BW Broad-winged Hawk; RT Red-tailed Hawk; RL Rough-legged Hawk; GE Golden Eagle; AK American Kestrel; ML Merlin; PG Peregrine Falcon; UA Unidentified Accipiter; UB Unidentified Buteo; UF Unidentified Falcon; UR Unidentified RaptorSubject: Fort Smallwood Park, 5/6/2008 From: susiericc AT COMCAST.NET Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 16:07:56 +0000 Fort Smallwood Park Pasadena, Maryland, USA Daily Raptor Counts: May 06, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- BV 9 22 482 TV 43 315 5770 OS 13 79 514 BE 1 6 62 NH 2 12 139 SS 23 262 1879 CH 5 72 448 NG 0 0 0 RS 0 0 192 BW 20 86 216 RT 4 22 230 RL 0 0 1 GE 0 0 0 AK 0 0 414 ML 0 7 47 PG 0 0 5 UA 0 4 16 UB 0 1 12 UF 0 1 3 UE 0 0 0 UR 0 3 7 Total: 120 892 10437 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 EST Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Ralph Geuder, Sue Ricciardi Observers: Linda Baker, Ralph Geuder Weather: Sunny becoming partly cloudy; 56-75 degrees; fair visibility with some haze; winds mostly northwesterly, 0-10 mph gusting to 17 mph Raptor Observations: Some Ospreys, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and Broad-winged Hawks with an afternoon flight of Turkey Vultures Non-raptor Observations: ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sue Ricciardi (susiericc AT comcast.net) Site Description: Fort Smallwood Park is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Patapsco River, 11 miles south of Baltimore, MD. Best winds are from the southwest. The Park is closed to visitors on Wednesdays. Directions to site: For directions and more info, go to http://www.mdbirds.org/sites/mdsites/hawks/hawkwatch.html BV Black Vulture; TV Turkey Vulture; OS Osprey; SK Swallow-tailed Kite; MK Mississippi Kite; BE Bald Eagle; NH Northern Harrier; SS Sharp-shinned Hawk; CH Cooper's Hawk; NG Northern Goshawk; RS Red-shouldered Hawk; BW Broad-winged Hawk; RT Red-tailed Hawk; RL Rough-legged Hawk; GE Golden Eagle; AK American Kestrel; ML Merlin; PG Peregrine Falcon; UA Unidentified Accipiter; UB Unidentified Buteo; UF Unidentified Falcon; UR Unidentified RaptorSubject: Re: No LeConte's this morning From: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:59:11 -0400 George Jett just called and said the bird still hasn't been seen as off 11am.? Matt Hafner Bel Air, MD -----Original Message----- From: Ross Geredien/Good MigrationsSubject: Re: No LeConte's this morning From: Ross Geredien/Good Migrations <goodmigrations AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:44:27 -0700 Arrived at 8 AM and saw George and Ben. We searched until 9:20 or so before I had to leave. George was still there when I left, but so far, NO LeConte's. There was, however, a Northern Waterthrush in the area where the bird was seen yesterday, calling from the Phrag/Willows. Ross Matt HafnerSubject: Wood Sandpiper continues in DE From: Paul Pisano <cheep AT STARPOWER.NET> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:29:12 -0400 Just wanted to let you know that I just got a call from Gail M. (at 10:05am). She said the Wood Sandpiper continues to show well along Broadkill Beach Rd. She said the bird was first found in a small pool on the left hand side of the road (apparently the pool has a white pole in it, and it's the first white pole you come to as you drive down the road). After watching it for a while, the bird flew across the road to the big impoundment. A little bit later it flew back to the first pool. Good luck if you chase it. Paul Pisano Arlington, VASubject: Grasshopper Sparrows and Horned Larks at Ag. Hist. Farm Pk, Gaithersburg, Montgomery Co., 5/7 From: "FELLEY, JAMES" <FelleyJ AT SI.EDU> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 09:29:23 -0400 The subject line says it all. I returned to the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood (Gaithersburg) yesterday to search for more of the elusive Montgomery County field birds. You may recall that I saw a couple of Vesper Sparrows here last month. This time, in the big field to the left as you drive in, I stumbled upon a couple of acres of uncut grass, which supported at least 3 singing Grasshopper Sparrow males (one of which I watched for a few minutes as it sang). Most of the field is cultivated dirt. I saw (4) Horned Larks flying about the cultivated area. In the shrubs and woods around the field there were many Indigo Buntings and Field Sparrows singing, as well as both Orioles, Brown Thrashers, Common Yellowthroats and a few White-eyed Vireos. I heard one Prairie Warbler, but did not find it. Deeper in the woods I heard Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrushes. I have been birding on the Mall recently, but those birds have been well-reported by others. Besides, I'm sulking because I never saw the Clay-colored Sparrow. Jim Jim Felley Smithsonian Institution felleyj AT si.eduSubject: No LeConte's this morning From: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 09:03:15 -0400 I searched for the Greenbury Point LeConte's Sparrow this morning from 6:30 to 7:30am with Ben Weinstein and Tom Feild.? We didn't find it, but when I left for work, Ben and Tom were still there and George Jett was just arriving.? Maybe the afternoon will be better.? Matt Hafner Bel Air, MDSubject: C& O Canal / Great Falls From: Donald Sweig <skybirds.d AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 22:40:54 -0400 Went to the Canal at Great Falls this afternoon about 4:30 till 7:00. Very birdy. Heard many and saw one warbling vireo; heard and saw a Prothonotary Warbler on territory; multiples of both orioles on territory; also saw No. Rough-wing swallows, two red-tails engaged in some sort of courtship flight (very interesting), a red-shoulder, swifts, eagles, many vultures of both kinds. Lots of bird sound all the time. All very nice indeed. -- Donald Sweig Falls Church, Va.Subject: Ferndale Big Day, 5/7 From: Stan Arnold <dy.dx AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 22:19:29 -0400 Hi Folks, With a majority of my students taking their advanced placement exams today, I took a day off from work to see how many birds Elaine and I could tally in our one-acre suburban yard (Ferndale, northern AA Co.) from sunrise to sunset. Our yard has a couple dozen mature pines, six large southern red oaks, and numerous other evergreen and decidous trees that are fairly attractive to migrants. We were shooting for 50 species, and missed it by one. We had 46 by 10:30 a.m. when we left to run some errands; made it up to 48 by 1:20 p.m. when an Osprey flew over, and that was it for the remainder of the day, until a White-throated Sparrow vocalized at dusk. We had plenty of vultures, but hawks were just not coming our way today. Nevertheless, this was our biggest yard day ever. Highlights were a yard-high three species of gull, including a long-expected first yard record of GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, a flyover subadult (3d summer?), and ten species of warbler, including first-of-year MAGNOLIA and CHESTNUT-SIDED (both digiscoped), and our first yard record of PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, singing robustly. Also, a shorebird that wisked by, about the size of a Dunlin, was not identified, but would have been new for the yard if ID'd. A FOY singing male SCARLET TANAGER was a show-stopper, allowing some decent digiscopes. While the new yard birds and all the warblers were quite special, the real highlight for me was a male and female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK on the feeder together. I was able to digiscope both birds separately. I found the female to be as attractive as the male, with her bold face stripes, earthy colors, and bright yellow coloration that spilled from the underwings onto the flanks, easily visible as the bird maneuvered around the feeders. I had never noticed this color on a female before. It's been the most incredible Spring migration in my memory. Our yard year list now stands at 96, 19 species ahead of last year's total by this date. Good (yard) birding. Stan Arnold Ferndale dy.dx AT earthlink.netSubject: Jarrettsville yard birds, 05/06/08 From: Kevin Graff <whitemarlin2001 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:02:28 -0700 Hi all,
05/06/08 - 6am-705am
Jarrettsville yard bird including feeders, woods, and
winter wheat farm across street, Old Federal Hill Rd.,
Jarrettsville, Harford Co., MD
WEATHER: Sunny, 47-48 degrees, calm
Canada Goose - 2
Turkey Vulture - 2
Northern Harrier - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 4 (2 fledged still in nest)
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Mourning Dove - 4
Chimney Swift - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Blue Jay - 3
American Crow - 2
Barn Swallow - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 5
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 2
House Wren - 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Eastern Bluebird - 4
American Robin - 9
Gray Catbird - 7
Northern Mockingbird - 2
European Starling - 8
Nashville Warbler - 1
Magnolia Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Black-throated Green Warbler - 1
Chipping Sparrow - 5
Song Sparrow - 2
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal - 5
Indigo Bunting - 1 (safflower seed feeder)
Common Grackle - 8
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2
House Finch - 8
American Goldfinch - 7
SPECIES: 37
TOTAL BIRDS: 120
MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel - 8
BUTTERFLIES
Black Swallowtail - 1
Kevin Graff
Jarrettsville, MD & West O.C., MD
WhiteMarlin2001 AT yahoo.com
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Subject: FW: DC Area, 5/6/08From: Norm Saunders <marshhawk AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:24:20 -0400 -----Original Message-----
From: Steve Cordle [mailto:scordle AT capaccess.org]
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:00 PM
To: birdeast AT listserv.arizona.edu
Subject: DC Area, 5/6/08
Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 5/6/2008
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE
Telephone: 301-652-1088 option 1
Reports (voice): 301-652-1088 option 2
(email): voice AT AudubonNaturalist.org
(deadline): midnight Mondays
Compiler: Helen Patton
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central
Atlantic States (independent of NAS!)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle (scordle AT capaccess.org)
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice (Individual $40; Family $50; Nature Steward $75; Audubon
Advocate $150). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12; the
address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; and the web
site is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report was completed Tuesday, May 6, at 6:00
p.m.
Top birds this week are FRANKLIN'S GULL in DC and WHITE-WINGED TERN*
in DE.
Other birds of interest include RED-THROATED LOON, AMERICAN BITTERN,
herons, kites, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, shorebirds,
BLACK-NECKED STILT, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CHUCK-WILL'S WIDOW and
WHIP-POOR-WILL, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, CLIFF SWALLOW, thrushes, warblers,
sparrows, grosbeaks, BOBLINK, and PURPLE FINCH.
A FRANKLIN'S GULL was on the golf course at Haines Point, DC on May 3.
During the week, a WHITE-WINGED TERN was reported at Ted Harvey WMA,
Kent Co, DE. The bird was seen in the "north" pond of the Logan Land
Tract. It has also been seen in the south side of the Logan Tract.
A RED-THROATED LOON was a fly-by at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Center, Grasonville, Queen Anne's Co, MD on May 2.
AMERICAN BITTERNS were reported this week from the Ft. McHenry NM,
Baltimore, MD on April 30; Greenbury Point, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May
1; Susquehanna SP, Cecil Co, MD on May 2; Swan Harbor, Harford Co, MD
on May 3 and Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 4.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was found at the Oxbow Lake Nature Preserve, Anne
Arundel Co, MD and at the Forbay Pond area at Lake Elkhorn, Howard Co,
MD on May 2. Two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at the Glen
Artney section of Patapsco Valley SP on April 30 and May 5 and another
two were spotted on Hunting Quarter Road, Montgomery Co, MD also on
April 30. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Lake Elkhorn,
Columbia, Howard Co, MD on May 1. Two YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS
were seen at Sligo Creek Parkway, Montgomery Co, MD on May 4.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over the office at Eastern Shore of VA NWR,
Northampton Co, VA on May 2. A MISSISSIPPI KITE flew over a yard in
North East, Cecil Co, MD on May 3 and another was seen at Huntley
Meadows Park on May 4. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Finzel Swamp,
Garrett Co, MD on May 2. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were reported from
Greenbury Point on April 29 and another was spotted at Turkey Run
Park, Fairfax Co, VA on May 4.
A COMMON MOORHEN was noted at Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Co, MD
on May 3.
A SANDHILL CRANE was flying west over Partnership Road near
Poolsville, Montgomery Co, MD on May 3.
Shorebirds have started to arrive with reports from throughout the
region including BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS at North Branch, Allegany Co,
MD and RED KNOTS near the Eastern Shore of VA NWR on May 2. A visit to
Hart-Miller Island, Baltimore Co, MD on May 4 reported 15 shorebird
species.
Two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were seen on Elliott Island Road, Dorchester
Co, MD on April 30.
The BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO reported from the Blue Mash Nature Trail,
Montgomery Co, MD, last week was re-found on April 30 and the number
had increased to 2 by May 1. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was spotted at the
National Arboretum, DC on May 3 and others were reported from a yard
in Colesville, Montgomery Co, MD; along the C&O Canal in Washington
Co, MD and from Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington, VA on May 4.
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS were heard calling in Black Marsh, Baltimore Co, MD
and Weinberg Park south of White Pond, Anne Arundel Co, MD on April
30. A single CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW was seen and heard from the Edgewood
Area of the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Harford Co, MD on May 2.
CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS and WHIP-POOR-WILLS were calling from the Solley
Road power line in Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 4.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH were seen at Soldier's
Delight, Baltimore Co, MD on May 4.
CLIFF SWALLOWS were noted at the Belle Isle footbridge, Richmond VA on
May 4.
A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was observed in Upper Watts Branch Park on May 1
and another was encountered from the hiker/biker trail in Montgomery
Co, MD on May 2. On May 3, a SWAINSON'S THRUSH was observed at
Wakefield Park, Fairfax Co, VA.
Warbler numbers and diversity increased to a flood across the region.
Highlights include GOLDEN-WINGED, BLUE-WINGED, BREWSTER'S, LAWRENCE'S
hybrid, CHESTNUT-SIDED, CAPE-MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, BAY-BREASTED,
CERULEAN, SWAINSON'S, KENTUCKY. MOURNING and HOODED WARBLERS.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at the edge of Constitution Gardens,
DC with sightings on May 1, 2 and 4. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was spotted
near the intersection of Church Road and Rte 50 in Bowie MD and on
Country Farm Road, Caroline Co, MD on May 1. More GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS
were heard from roads in the west-central part of Carroll Co, MD on
May 1 and a few GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen along Carr Lane near
Sky Meadows SP, Fauquier Co, VA on May 4. Four SEASIDE SPARROWS were
at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 3.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS appeared in the area this past week with
reports from many sites; BLUE GROSBEAK reports continued, but at a
lower level.
BOBOLINKS have returned to the Beltsville Ag Research Center, Prince
George's Co, MD. Two BOBOLINKS were noted at Gravelly Point,
Arlington, VA on April 30 and May 1 and 2. 17 BOBOLINKS were found in
a tree in Gambrills, Anne Arundel Co, MD on May 1. A northbound flock
of BOBOLINKS serenaded birders in Kent Co, MD on May 3 while 20 more
were singing loudly on Old Hanover Road, Baltimore Co, MD on May 4.
PURPLE FINCH continue to be seen around the area.
Some of this week's reports have been gleaned from the MDOsprey and
VA-Bird list servers and the eBird Rare Bird Google Gadgets for MD and
VA.
Finding Birds in the National Capital Area by Claudia Wilds is an
excellent source for directions to many birding sites. The ANS
Bookstore (301-652-3606 or
www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/store) is an excellent source
for this and many other nature-related titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to
voice AT AudubonNaturalist.org or call 301-652-1088 and select menu
option 2. Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the
county as well as state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning
contact, either e-mail or phone.
Thank you for calling, and GOOD BIRDING.
*Of interest to the records committee.
Subject: Influx of Gray Catbirds/BethesdaFrom: diane Ford <dmford455 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:00:30 -0700 Hi all,
On a morning walk 5/7 along Rock Creek, I noticed many Gray Catbirds had
arrived since yesterday. In one bush, 4 were singing away. Not many warblers
though, but some-
1 Ovenbird and 2 Black throated Blues.
Good birding
D.Ford/Bethesda
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Subject: LeConte's Sparrow at Greenbury PointFrom: Matt Hafner <mh1920 AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 20:53:37 -0400 Bill Schreitz sent me his photos of a mystery "sharp-tailed" sparrow from this morning at Greenbury Point.? I took a quick look at the photos and immediately thought LeConte's Sparrow!? After work, I headed over to Greenbury Point and met Bill, along with Dan Haas and Chris Murray.? We all had great looks at the bird as it was very cooperative (for a LeConte's).? If the bird doesn't leave tonight (the winds are favorable for migration), then I believe this bird could be easily found tomorrow.? To get to Greenbury Point, exit Rt. 50 at the Rt. 2 North/Rt. 450 west exit on the east side of the Severn.? Take 450 down to a left on Rt. 648.? Then take a slight right onto Greenbury Point Rd.? Follow the road until you see the Visitors Center on the right.? Park at the Visitor's Center and take the paved Bobwhite Trail.? Follow the trail past the observation blind.? On your right cross the chain and head down the hill on an old road bed.? The old road takes a sharp left and that is where you should begin looking for the sparrow.? If Dan, Chris, and Bill would like to provide better, by all means, I am not really familiar with the area.? I think the best strategy for finding this bird is slowly walking the grassy edges of the old road bed.? The bird will likely fly and perch in a nearby bush for a few seconds before dropping to the ground.? Once it drops, we simply waited patiently for about 15 minutes.? Then we slowly walked the grassy edges again and the bird would again flush.? While the bird preferred to be in the grassy edges, we never once saw it feeding out in the open like the Fields and Swamps.? The bird flushed several times while we were there (mainly by bikers/runners), but always returned to the roadbed.? When flying, this bird looks streaky, yellow, with a short, spiked tail.? It is very distinctive and nothing else in the area looks like it.? Matt Hafner Bel Air, MDSubject: Extralim reported DE WOOD SANDPIPER From: Ben Weinstein <bweinstein AT SYSSRC.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:22:27 -0400 Hi all, forwarding the report of a WOOD SANDPIPER from Broadkill Beach, Prime Hook, DE I'm sure many of you have the DE listserv, but to make sure. Norm, I hope its alright that i forwarded this, its a great bird, i'll be going friday morning to chase, if anyone knows they will be going friday let me know. The message: Hello, DE-BIRDers & others-- Congratulations to Sharon Lynn on her amazing find of a Wood Sandpiper at Broadkill Beach Impoundment in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, east of Milton, Delaware. I've posted a photo set about it on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgyr/sets/72157604940005597/ Click any photo to view it larger size. A couple of details about this bird.... Finding & observing it: It's hanging out on the near shore, quite close to the right (south) shoulder of Rt 16, about 0.3 miles beyond the "big bend" where the gated Island Farm Road continues straight. It's the second pulloff on the right, as you head east towards the bay. The distance to the spot is about a hair more than 3.3 miles from the intersection of Rt 1 & Rt 16. There is a small green and white "Important Bird Area" sign on the right that is just about a perfect marker for the spot, though it does range up and down the shore a few hundred feet, especially in the direction of the bay. There are only a few shorebirds in the area--some Leasts, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and the Wood Sandpiper. Here's a Google Map of the exact spot: http://snipurl.com/27rzk Backstory: It was found Monday, May 5 by Sharon Lynn, who knew it was odd, but couldn't quite decide what it was. Sharon forwarded me excellent photos which I received this morning, and which I admit I at first passed off as an odd yellowlegs, but on second viewing strongly suspected Wood Sandpiper. Liz & I immediately dashed out to Broadkill and were able to re-find and confirm the bird. Observing it: It is tolerant of people within limits. It will flush before you even leave the road if you pursue it, so please be very careful about your movements. I did not flush it, by the way, but several passing vehicles did at times, and it was obvious from the bird's behavior when I approached it that it would have flushed had I pressed it at all. Be very careful of traffic, both blocking it and getting hit by it. We all want this to be a positive event for everyone in the local community, both birders and non-birders. Things to watch for: Dumpy shape compared to Lesser Yellowlegs, with wings less projecting at rear. Capped appearance, with dark crown and prominent eyestripe. Dull straw legs. Two tone bill with greenish-straw base, thicker than Lesser Yellowlegs. High thin call, somewhat like Lesser Yellowlegs, but more like Solitary Sandpiper. Moves like Solitary Sandpiper; bounces when alert and on landing. White rump with strong black bands near end of tail. Gray wing linings. Documentation: Obviously, the more the better. But be aware that the bird has already been photographed, videotaped, and sound recorded, so there is not a *pressing* need to get close to it for more. The main priority is to make sure it stays as long as it cares to and is enjoyed safely by all those who come to see it. It would be an excellent subject for digiscoping, though, which can be done at longer distances. Light is best in the afternoon. Good birding, JeffSubject: Bobwhite From: Fred Burggraf <Fburggraf AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:52:19 EDT Today I heard a N. Bobwhite singing at the intersection of Trinity Church Road and Kentucky Ave. in southeastern Charles Co. (ADC Charles Co. Map 27, K6). Thought it was worth a mention! Fred Burggraf Dentsville MD (Charles Co.) **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Paper Mill Flats 5/7/08 From: Ben Weinstein <bweinstein AT SYSSRC.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 15:18:59 -0400 A decent morning at the flats, i also found a blue gray gnatcatcher nest at NCR trailhead phoenix. Couldn't find any hooded mergs or blue winged teal, but saw several wood duck with young. Totals Below Location: Loch Raven Reservoir--Paper Mill Flats Observation date: 5/7/08 Number of species: 54 Canada Goose 9 Mute Swan 1 Wood Duck 3 Mallard 2 Great Blue Heron 1 Black Vulture 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 6 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Mourning Dove 1 Chimney Swift 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Acadian Flycatcher 3 Eastern Phoebe 2 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Eastern Kingbird 2 Warbling Vireo 7 Red-eyed Vireo 3 Blue Jay 2 American Crow 1 Tree Swallow 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 Carolina Chickadee 3 Tufted Titmouse 2 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 2 Wood Thrush 2 American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 2 Northern Mockingbird 1 Northern Parula 7 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler 2 Prothonotary Warbler 1 Ovenbird 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 3 Common Yellowthroat 1 Scarlet Tanager 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 Orchard Oriole 3 Baltimore Oriole 7 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Good Birding Ben WeinsteinSubject: Migrants @ Greenbury Pt this morning From: Bill Schreitz <cabmkrwbs AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 14:33:53 -0400 Hello All,
New migrants for me at Greenbury Point between 6:30 & 7:30, all near the
Bobwhite Trail (the partially paved loop nearest to the nature Center) were as
follows:
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
1 Scarlet Tanager
1 Baltimore Oriole
1 Ammodramus Sparrow of the Nelson/Saltmarsh/LeConte variety (pictures upon
request)
several Northern Parula
1 Black & White Warbler
several Redstarts
Migrants still present and/or singing were the Yellow -breasted chats(4),
Indigo Buntings (3), eastern Kingbirds, orchard orioles, field & savannah
Sparrows, tree & barn swallows, a chimney swift, and the red-eyed & white-eyed
vireos.
Bill
WILLIAM B SCHREITZ CABINETMAKER INC
1806 Virginia Street Annapolis Maryland
cabmkrwbs AT verizon.net
Subject: Yellow-breasted Chat, Hughes Hollow, 5/7/08From: Dalcio Dacol <ddacol AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 13:24:47 -0400 An Yellow-breasted Chat showed very well this morning at Hughes Hollow while engaged in territorial displays. It performed its loop flight display and its even loopier "songs" and calls. This bird was on the top of the trees at the southernmost hedge bordering the ponds, on the west side (right side as one approaches the hedge from the ponds). Dalcio Poolesville, MD ddacol AT comcast.netSubject: Re: Jug Bay marsh birds From: "CURSON, David" <dcurson AT AUDUBON.ORG> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:54:31 -0400 Jeff, Cowbirds often remove a host egg from a nest before they parasitize it. They scout out the nests and may remove an egg on days prior so that they can then go directly to the victim's nest at sunrise the next day and lay their egg in it. The egg removal and eating have been documented before. I've seen them do this a couple of times as part of my graduate research, and also seen the parastitic act by staking out likely nests and watching them at sunrise. the cowbirds can be brutal - if the host bird is on the nest when the cowbird comes to lay her egg she (the cowbird) will shove the host bird off the nest by pecking it on the head (with Plumbeous Vireos) or, if it is small enough (Yellow Warbler), picking it up by the scruff of the neck and throwing it off. Back to egg removal - cowbirds will grasp small eggs between their mandibles, but will lift larger eggs by puncturing them with one mandible just as you describe. Eating the contents provides valuable nutrients which the cowbird needs - she will lay from 25-40 eggs a season! Cowbirds, gotta love 'em (a great Ameican success story!) Dave David Curson, PhD Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon MD-DC, 2437 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore MD 21224 Tel: (410) 558 2473 E-mail: dcurson AT audubon.org -----Original Message----- From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:MDOSPREY AT HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM]On Behalf Of Jeff Shenot Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:47 PM To: MDOSPREY AT HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] Jug Bay marsh birds This eve I heard my first Least Bittern for the year, and there have been Soras calling in the evening since Sunday. I also saw something odd- a female cowbird doing something with an egg on the ground. I came up on her as she was apparently trying to lift it. The egg appeared to have a small hole in it and she very gently lifted it by placing her lower bill inside the egg through the hole, and her upper bill on the outside outside. I did not see her poke the hole, it was there when I first noticed. I couldn't tell where the egg was from (no visible nest nearby); it was a white with only a few light brown speckles. It was larger than a Bluebird egg and smaller than a Robin egg. I hoped she would leave it so I could see what kind it was, but she managed to get a hold of it and carry (fly with) it a short distance (~25 feet) near the ground away from the trail I was on. Then to my shock she ate it -- egg, shell, and all! When she finished she flew away and did not return to the area. I looked at the place she had been standing at but there was nothing left. I looked around to see where she came from but could not find a nest. Anyone know if cowbird parasitism includes eating a host bird's egg? I have seen grackles eat bird eggs (as scavengers, not as parasites), but never saw a cowbird do this. Cheers- Jeff Shenot Croom MDSubject: Rock Creek Park, DC., Wed., 5/7 From: Wallace Kornack <wallace AT KORNACK.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:23:01 -0400 Highlights of the birds seen at Rock Creek Park this morning in the usual places sans dog run: Northern Parula 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler 2 Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 15+ Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Blackburnian Warbler 4 Blackpoll Warbler 2 Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart 4 Ovenbird (heard) Common Yellowthroat Red-shouldered Hawk Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood-Pewee Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wood Thrush 2 Cedar Waxwing 6 Indigo Bunting 2 Baltimore Oriole 9 Scarlet Tanager Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Plus 11 other species Observers: Jim Lemert, Nancy Grossman, Dave Bolton, Marjorie Rachlin, Gary Nelson, Holly Nelson, Sally Wechsler, Woody Cunningham, Evelyn Ralston. Betsy Have Fun Birding! Wallace Kornack Washington DCSubject: Re: 54 species morning walk From: Warren Strobel <wstrobel AT MCCLATCHYDC.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 11:19:37 -0400 Fred: I was out this morning as well, probably an hour or so later than you. Saw the Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, as well as a small peep that must have been your Least Sandpiper. Also had: Blackpoll Warbler, BG Gnatcatcher, YR Warbler, Ovenbird (heard), Parula (heard), Red-Eyed Vireo and tons of Catbirds. Thought I heard House Wren and Yellow Warbler... Saw a pair of Phoebes, so they will be there when you go back, What a wonderful spot Schoolhouse is! Good Birding Warren Strobel Annapolis, MD www.birdcouple.com On Wed, 7 May 2008 08:36:43 -0400, Fred ShafferSubject: Re: N. Arundel: 5/7/08: Late White-crowned Sparrow From: Monroe Harden <hardenm AT SPRYNET.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:52:36 -0400 We have had one too in our backyard in Havre de Grace. It has been here for the last 3 days. And I agree- it is a beautiful bird. Monroe Harden Havre de Grace, MD harden AT sprynet.com -----Original Message----- From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:MDOSPREY AT HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On Behalf Of Matthew Grey Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:20 AM To: MDOSPREY AT HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] N. Arundel: 5/7/08: Late White-crowned Sparrow Hello all, I had a late White-crowned Sparrow in my yard this morning. Beautiful bird. Matt Grey PasadenaSubject: Purple Finches at Cylburn Arboretum, 5/7 From: John Dennehy <jedennehy AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:38:42 -0400 Among the warblers at Cylburn Arboretum in Baltimore this morning were three PURPLE FINCHes. Other interesting birds: Belted Kingfisher (on the top of the hill near the mansion) Veery - 1 Wood Thrush (carrying nesting material) Gray Catbird (carrying nesting material) Nashville Warbler - 2 Northern Parula - 4 Yellow Warbler - 3 Magnolia Warbler - 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler - 6 Yellow-rumped Warbler - many Black-throated Green Warbler - 3 Blackburnian Warbler - 1 Blackpoll Warbler - 1 Black-and-white Warbler - 2 American Redstart - 3 Ovenbird - 4 Waterthrush sp. - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 1 John Dennehy Baltimore, MD jedennehy AT comcast.netSubject: 81st Dorchester County May Bird Count, complete list, May 3 From: Henry Armistead <74077.3176 AT COMPUSERVE.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:16:52 -0400 81st DORCHESTER COUNTY, MD, May Bird Count, May 3, 2008, Saturday.
Complete list.
EFFORT: 3 parties, 3+ observers. 258 mi. by car, 3.5 mi. on foot. 11
P.M., Fri. until 10 P.M., Sat. total party hours 30.5.
135 SPECIES.
For weather and other general commentary please see the report I posted a
few days ago concerning my personal count of the day.
PARTICIPANTS: Terry Allen (leader of BNWR bird walk in company with Diane
Cole and c. 7 others); Diane Cole (BNWR, Cambridge & extreme southern
parts of the county: Bishop's Head & Crocheron); Harry Armistead, compiler
(EI, BNWR, SH, Moneystump Swamp & Hooper's Island).
ABBREVIATIONS: BNWR, Blackwater N.W.R.; EI, Elliott Island Road; SH,
Swan Harbor (north of Hooper's Island).
COMPLETE LIST:
Canada goose 54. mute swan 4 (EI). wood duck 2. American black duck 24.
mallard 62. blue-winged teal 1 male (BNWR). green-winged teal 26.
bufflehead 1 male (Cambridge). red-breasted merganser 2 females (SH). [9
waterfowl]. wild turkey 4. northern bobwhite 4. common loon 6.
American white pelican 1 (BNWR). brown pelican 6 (SH). double-crested
cormorant 275. great blue heron 34. great egret 16. snowy egret 33.
tricolored heron 1 (EI). green heron 3. black-crowned night heron 1 (EI).
glossy ibis 4 (EI).
black vulture 4 (1 of them on top of a billboard right in the middle of the
Cambridge Route 50 strip). turkey vulture 65. osprey 53. bald eagle 33.
northern harrier 8. Cooper's hawk 1 (Egypt Rd.). red-tailed hawk 3.
merlin 1 (Griffith Neck Rd., a male doing its deceptive, faux passerine
flight style, reminiscent of the way shrikes fly; flushed everything in one
field). peregrine falcon 1 (BNWR). [9 raptors; good total]
clapper rail 20. king rail 3. Virginia rail 40. common moorhen 5.
black-bellied plover 4 (BNWR). semipalmated plover 10. killdeer 6.
American oystercatcher 1 (SH). black-ncked stilt 4 (EI). greater
yellowlegs 15. lesser yellowlegs 6. solitary sandpiper 3. willet 6.
spotted sandpiper 2 (BNWR). sanderling 1 (SH). semipalmated sandpiper 8
(BNWR). least sandpiper 17. peep unIDd 2. dunlin 235. short-billed
dowitcher 2 (1 BNWR, 1 EI). Wilson's snipe 1 (BNWR). [16 shorebirds]
laughing gull 602. ring-billed gull 36. herring gull 92. great
black-backed gull 5. Caspian tern 1 (EI). royal tern 16 (SH & EI).
common tern 1 (Hooper's I.). Forster's tern 27 (low). least tern 7
(nesting on the roof of Best Value Inn again). [5 terns]
rock pigeon 12. mourning dove 48. barn owl 1 (EI). eastern screech-owl 1
(Lewis Wharf Rd.). great horned owl 1 (Shorter's Wharf Rd.). barred owl
2. chuck-will's-widow 3. chimney swift 10. ruby-throated hummingbird 3.
red-headed woodpecker 5 (widespread). red-bellied woodpecker 4. downy
woodpecker 1. northern flicker 4. pileated woodpecker 4 + one roadkill.
eastern wood-pewee 1 (BNWR). Acadian flycatcher 1 (Old Field Rd.).
eastern phoebe 1 (BNWR). great crested flycatcher 24. eastern kingbird 9.
white-eyed vireo 5. red-eyed vireo 3. blue jay 4. American crow 33.
fish crow 6.
horned lark 3. purple martin 20. tree swallow 48. bank swallow 1
(Robbins). barn swallow 90. Carolina chickadee 6. tufted titmouse 19.
brown-headed nuthatch 10. Carolina wren 24. house wren 6. marsh wren 12.
eastern bluebird 30. wood thrush 2. American robin 153. gray catbird 7.
northern mockingbird 16. brown thrasher 2. European starling 146. cedar
waxwing 10 (Robbins).
yellow warbler 2. yellow-rumped warbler 7. pine warbler 16. prairie
warbler 1. prothonotary warbler 1. ovenbird 7. common yellowthroat 37.
yellow-breasted chat 4. [that's right; only 8 warbler species]
summer tanager 10. eastern towhee 4. chipping sparrow 27. field sparrow
6. Savannah sparrow 7. grasshopper sparrow 3. saltmarsh sharp-tailed
sparrow 1. seaside sparrow 59. song sparrow 4. swamp sparrow 3.
white-throated sparrow 1. northern cardinal 32. blue grosbeak 12. indigo
bunting 6. [9 sparrows, not counting towhee]
bobolink 16 (Robbins). red-winged blackbird 623. eastern meadowlark 9.
common grackle 551. boat-tailed grackle 2 males (1 SH,1 EI). brown-headed
cowbird 50. orchard oriole 32. house finch 6 (Cambridge). American
goldfinch 12. house sparrow 18.
Best to all.-Henry ("Harry") T. Armistead, 523 E. Durham St., Philadelphia,
PA 19119-1225. 215-248-4120. Please, any off-list replies to:
harryarmistead at hotmail dot com (never, please, to 74077.3176 ....)
Subject: N. Arundel: 5/7/08: Late White-crowned SparrowFrom: Matthew Grey <matthew.grey AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:20:21 -0400 Hello all, I had a late White-crowned Sparrow in my yard this morning. Beautiful bird. Matt Grey PasadenaSubject: Blue Mash Nature Trail, Wed. 5/07 From: Mark England <markengland AT CANAMCONTRACTORS.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 10:14:36 -0400 There were some nice birds seen in great light this morning during a 1-hr. detour on the way in to work. Along the gravel road were: singing 1st-yr. Am. Redstart and Chestnut-Sided Warbler, female Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler (heard only), White-eyed Vireo, B/G Gnatcatcher, E. Towhee, H. Wren, Swamp and Field Sparrows. In the brushy field with the mown grass path were: C. Yellowthroat, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-throated Vireo (unusual location), Yellow Warbler, Brown Thrasher, another Swamp Sparrow, and a beautiful vocalizing Yellow-breasted Chat. The Chat was apparently back on territory, flying from one small tree to another, usually up about 15'--very easy to see, for a change! There was a probable Solitary Sandpiper on the far side of the big pond (no scope), but no other birds in the water or on the shoreline. There was also a singing Scarlet Tanager in one of the trees near the parking lot, but it was too far back to see. (No Black-billed Cuckoos were heard in this vicinity, where they have been reported recently.) Stopping at a pulloff in the woods at Rachel Carson Park, I heard my FOY E. Wood-Pewee, as well as a B/T Blue Warbler, Ovenbird, and a Scarlet Tanager, all heard-only. Mark England Damascus, Md.Subject: Hummer and Cape May Warbler From: MICHAEL SPEICHER <jugornought AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 06:16:41 -0700 At the homesite a Hummer finally found the feeder the eve of 5/6/08 - hurray and welcome back little ones...!!! I didn't have a feeder up last year until JULY or AUG, so had no prior experience with Spring arrivals. Also at home was a Cape May in a pine. It was a male and was quite a stunning sight! Jim (Michael) Speicher jugornought—at—yahoo-dot-com Bethesda AT work :( Broad Run_S. FRED Co AT home :) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJSubject: Ravens and osprey at BARC (Beltsville) From: "Cavigelli, Michel" <Michel.Cavigelli AT ARS.USDA.GOV> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 08:43:14 -0400 This morning (~7:45 am) there were two ravens in a recently cut alfalfa field at BARC (Beltsville Agricultural Research Center) at the SE corner of the intersection of Research and Beaverdam Roads. Field marks: 1. Very large body. 2. Large beak. 3. Wedge-shaped tail. Unmistakable. These must (?) be the same two reported on MDOSPREY about a week ago at BARC? They were more skittish than crows and flew as a pair rather than individually (or as a mob) as crows often do. I stopped my bike to look at them and while a crow would have not minded (they were ~75 ft away), they flew off and headed NE toward the intersection of Powder Mill and the BW Parkway where I believe the previous report was from. On Monday, an unusual thing happened: an osprey flew by me and my crew in the field (between Powder Mill and Beaverdam Roads near Edmonston Rd), carrying some prey. My crew stopped to ask me what that cool hawk is and told me they saw it pounce on some kind of mammal in a recently cut grass pasture and pound on it. This is the first time I have seen an osprey at BARC and the first I have heard of them taking terrestrial prey. However, it has been suggested that perhaps he dropped a fish and was picking it up... Happy Birding. Michel ------------------------------------------- Michel A. Cavigelli Research Soil Scientist Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab Animal and Natural Resources Institute Bldg 001, Rm 140 BARC-West 10300 Baltimore Ave. Beltsville, MD 20705 301-504-8327 office 240-304-9480 cell 301-504-8370 fax ------------------------------------------- |