Hi all,
Bit of a strange morning -- very quiet at first, overcast -- then about 7:15 we encountered an active flock in birches and woods-edge vines along the mini-train tracks. Light wasn't great and the birds were very active, flitting about in the thick leaves. However it was immediately apparent that this flock had some good birds! As Barry and I were struggling to get reasonable views, Jeff Shenot and another birder, Frank (sorry don't know last name) came up and we all started to score with warblers. Suddenly Barry calls out the hoped-for words "GOLDEN-WINGED" -- causing immediate high tension. Frank and Jeff eventually got onto the bird, a bright male, before it slipped away into the taller, darker trees -- unfortunately I did not! The same flock held Blue-winged, Canada, Parula, Chestnut-sided, Redstart, Blackburnian (not seen by us), Black-and-White, Black-throated Green (FOS) and many Red-eyed Vireos. The flock melted away (how do they do that?) and after that it was very slim pickings. Barry and I worked the field edge and found a few scattered individuals, the best of which was a HY, rather dull TENNESSEE WARBLER with some Chestnut-sideds, Red-eyes and another Canada. Strangely, we did not see or even hear a Yellowthroat although earlier Jeff and Frank had one by the lake. A distant Yellow-billed Cuckoo called. But by 9:00 it was dead and we all left for home.
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD
link to complete eBird report: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S11431116
Highlights:
Green Heron 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 heard only
Chimney Swift 18
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker 10
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 8 including continuing family party of 5
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Red-eyed Vireo 12
House Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 2
Blue-winged Warbler 2 one bright, one duller bird in same flock
Golden-winged Warbler 1 bright adult male bird with black throat and mask, clear gray underparts; in same flock as Blue-wings
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 1 dull immature
Northern Parula 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 5
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 3
Eastern Towhee 4
Chipping Sparrow 3
Baltimore Oriole 3 all adult males
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