Date: 11/26/12 8:22 am
From: Gail B. Mackiernan %<3Ckatahdinss...>%3E <katahdinss...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Fox Sparrows etc. @ Wheaton regional Park rhis morning



HI all,

A pleasant morning to be out, cold, no wind with a fairly heavy frost and smaller ponds with an ice skim. We started at Wheaton Regional Park (Mont. Co.) in the Shorefield picnic area thinking that the sun hitting the scattered Virginia Pines there early might be good for a winter finch fly-by (or in). However the best we could come up with were a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches. Scrubby areas along the mini-train tracks near the white house held five FOX SPARROWS (this has been a reliable site for several winters now) and a few Fields, as well as expected Song and White-throats. A nice pair of Towhees and a Winter Wren also in this area. There was good activity along the shores of Pine Lake, best being several Swamp Sparrows, a bright Sapsucker and a female Hooded Merganser. A "murder" of about 5-6 Am. Crows were relentlessly harassing an agitated Belted Kingfisher and several Mallards -- the latter were doing a good imitation of diving ducks as they sought to elude their tormentors. Our arrival put the little comedy to rest and the crows flew away. As we left the Park, a flock of 16 Tundra Swans flew over, heading SE, calling loudly. Brookside Gardens was pretty quiet by the time we got there, most activity was along the stream with birds drinking and bathing, nothing unusual. Another Winter Wren gave a good show.

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD

Birds of interest:

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 adults
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 adult male
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Winter Wren 2
Eastern Bluebird 5
Eastern Towhee 4
Field Sparrow 4 all in WRP
Fox Sparrow 5 all in WRP
Swamp Sparrow 3 along Pine Lake edge

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