Debbie Terry and I ventured into Western Maryland yesterday. Our first
stop was near my uncle's farm on Porter Cemetery Road in Allegany County. I
had never found Henslow's Sparrows there in the past so I wanted to check
out the recent reports. Though all the hayfields have been mowed the
steeper slope on the west side of the road remains unused. We saw one
Henslow's Sparrow singing there and one Grasshopper Sparrow singing also. A
juvenile Grasshopper Sparrow was in the road allowing close approach. I
heard a Bobolink but did not see any. Meadowlarks are doing well and one
Kestrel was here also. We heard at least two Savannah Sparrows.
At Old Legislative Road we found no winged warblers. The only warblers
we saw were Yellowthroat and Redstart. We saw a stub-tailed fledgling
Red-eyed Vireo. The White-eyed Vireo was still singing.
We spent about an hour and a half on Russell Road in Garrett County
without finding the Blue Grosbeak. Highlights here were a Vesper Sparrow
carrying food and another Kestrel. Farther up the road we heard more
Henslow's Sparrows and saw more Meadowlarks and Bobolinks.
We stopped in to visit the Gaffneys. Their hummingbird feeder was very
active and a Purple Finch was singing there. Two Wild Turkeys were along
McAndrews Hill Road.
In the afternoon we switched primarily to butterflying though we did see
the immature Common Loon at Piney Reservoir. While driving Lower New
Germany Road just above Blue Lick Road a Black Bear crossed the road in
front of us.
--
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD
--
|