Date: 1/5/13 2:08 pm
From: Balestri Marcia <mebalestri...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Midwinter count and more address birding


I joined leader David Smith along with Mike Welch and Bob Schaeffer on the Audrey Carroll Midwinter Count this morning. Highlights were Bald Eagle (first for the count, David said), Common Raven (at least 2), goodly numbers of American Tree Sparrows, 2 Chipping Sparrows in a large flock of mixed sparrows/juncos, and best of all, the always striking Red-headed Woodpecker.

I reprised my vigil for the Summer Tanager and was successful this time (nice bird), so it is still in it's proper place. I stopped by Western Regional Park to look for Bonnie's Savannah Sparrows (yes, but only 2), and a Wilson's Snipe squirted out of the entrance "pond" from the low spot where the rocks are.

I tried to spot Keith's Rough-legged Hawk, but came up empty on that one.

There have been some questions about the reported Gyrfalcon sighting in Frederick County. I have a call into our resident hawk expert, Tom Humphries, to see what he knows. I believe there is a falconer that lives near that area, so he may be flying something new. Of course, there was no mention of jesses in the post. This area is in the Catoctin Christmas Count which was held the day before with nothing like a Gyrfalcon reported, but I guess everyone should keep their eyes open.
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Marcia Balestri
Frederick, MD
<mebalestri...>



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