Hi Folks,
During a survey at Swan Creek (AA County by Key Bridge) this morning (Monday, 6/18) I encountered a COMMON RAVEN near the north cell. It circled around the large abandoned building adjacent to the cell, calling much of the time, then flew directly over my head at about 50 feet up. It appeared to be missing some tail feathers. As it circled again over the building, it was joined by yet another raven, and the two cavorted for a while, and then a *third* raven joined the two, and they flew together to the north end of the property, returned, and then disappeared when they went off together toward the northeast. I don't know if this was mom and the kids, or if the birds were uniform in age; my eye could not make any distinction among them. This is the 10th consecutive month that I have observed raven at this property. Since we don't have any rocky cliffs nearby, I have often pondered whether they might try to nest on some part of the nearby power plant, where there are certainly some cliff-like settings offered by the large concrete structures. Where ever they are nesting, they have been making frequent visits to this Patapsco River venue.
The out-of-season ducks also continue in the north cell of the property: one male RING-NECKED DUCK, one male LESSER SCAUP, three RUDDY DUCKs and a pair of BLACK DUCKs. During a survey on Saturday I also encountered both a male and female GADWALL swimming together in the north cell. I had six species of wader today: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, and Black-crowned Night Heron (all adults, when age could be determined).
Also of note was an early (or late) CASPIAN TERN, in the north cell. LEAST TERNs have not been common here this year, but there were two of them in the mitigated wetlands this morning. On Saturday I saw the property's first COMMON TERNs of the year on the river pilings to the east of the property, two of them.
Stan Arnold Ferndale, MD <thrushhost...>
*** NOTE: Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open ONLY Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be in your car and leaving at 3:30 p.m.. Remember to always sign in at the office, to be on your best behavior (people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to permitted areas. This Swan Creek map linked here details where you are and aren't allowed to walk. http://www.billhubick.com/docs/swan_creek_map.jpg. ***
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