Date: 8/19/12 9:05 am
From: Chris Starling <cstar.email...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Harford County: Upland Sandpipers GRSP, RHWO, etc...


Yesterday, I was unexpectedly called into work, coupled with my previously scheduled overtime today and Monday�s usual shift, that will put me here (Aberdeen Proving Ground �[APG]) for sixty straight hours. Such a long consecutive run of hours at work equals a lot of downtime for me �being a weekend helps tremendously also� Given this and given the recent regional Upland Sandpiper reports, I decided to make it a goal to use my �free� time to search the Edgewood side of the garrison for these elusive �grass-pipers.�

APG possesses some fairly large �natural-state� grasslands that regularly burn due to the ordnance testing that goes on �some of the grassy fields/test ranges are thousands of acres in size. This meant I had my work cut out for me, but it also meant that there is a considerable amount of healthy and relatively undisturbed habitat for Uppies and other grassland/field birds.

After a three hour search I managed to locate one Upland Sandpiper standing on a paved access road that traverses the H-Field test range. It was very cooperative and didn�t appear disturbed or too concerned about my arrival. After a few moments, I opened my door to take some photos -the bird was about 15 feet from me. When I opened my door and got out, I was startled when I nearly stepped on a second bird that was resting next to my truck. This bird quickly ran to the second bird and did not appear to be injured. Perhaps it (they) were simply too exhausted to flush from me given their recent flight� (?)

Anyway, I was able to view and photograph these two Uppies for about ten minutes as they slowly moved away from me and eventually flew about thirty feet off the road and into the nearby knee-high grass. �Fun stuff!

Also noteworthy on H-Field were 14 Grasshopper Sparrows, 16 Eastern Meadowlarks, and 14 Killdeer �all of which breed on the range. I had similar numbers here during a count in May. I noted that many of the GRSP that I was able to view well were juvenile birds.

Lastly, an adult Red-headed Woodpecker was a treat to find on a utility pole in the northwest corner of the M-Field test range. I believe that this species breeds about a half mile away where Maxwell Point joins Gunpowder Neck. I�ve noted a pair at that location on numerous consecutive birding trips although I have only hear them, not seen them, since the leaves returned to the trees�

A full list of species seen/heard follows below

Good birding 8)
-Chris Starling
North East, MD


August 18, 2012
APG Edgewood Area

Canada Goose
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher)
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch

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