Thank you Matt and Bill for your kind note. I was fortunate to get some pictures since the bird, close at first, was spooked by a hawk and flew downstream. I assume this waterthrush was an early northbound overshoot because I made periodic visits to Font Hill this winter and didn't see it before
Jim Wilkinson
Columbia, MD
On Thursday, February 21, 2013 10:33:52 PM UTC-5, Matt Hafner wrote:
> Bill Hubick and I thought that this AMAZING record could use a little more context and overall fanfare.� So first, congratulations to Jim for finding a great bird!
>
> The previous Maryland early date for Louisiana Waterthrush (LOWA) in Maryland was�February 28th.� Perhaps Bob Ringler can give us an exact location on this one, but I suspect somewhere in the Pocomoke River drainage.� Typically the first LOWA of the year are found in that area in the second half of March.� During the last few days of March and early April, they appear at scattered other breeding areas around the state.��
>
> Last year, you may remember that there was an influx of early LOWA around the state.� This was notable, not because the first ones were especially early (they were a bit early; it was�18 March), but because there were many more of them than usually arrive in March.� Check out the ebird data for the Spring 2008-2012:�http://tinyurl.com/bymfmmu
>
> What makes Jim's record even more amazing is that I cannot find any other reports of migrant LOWA in the United States so far this year.� There have been a few wintering birds in extreme S Florida and SE Arizona, but those are normal.� Mid-February records in Florida are considered early, but not unexpected.� As I said though, none so far this year.� In this context, I think Jim's LOWA is one of the rarest birds recorded in MD this year and it's been a GREAT year so far!
>
> As a general rule, "early" migrants are MUCH rarer than "late" migrants.� So if you believe you have an early migrant this Spring, please try to document it as Jim has.� Small point and shoot cameras and cell phones take much better pictures than you might think.� Also, many spring migrants are identified "heard only".� These can be documented with recording devices on many cell phones as well as the video setting on most cameras.��
>
>
> Good birding and thanks again to Jim!
>
>
> Matt Hafner
> Forest Hill, MD
>
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 2:37 PM, Jim Wilkinson�<lakek......>�wrote:
> There was a Louisiana Waterthrush at Font Hill Park around�1 PM. �I first saw it near the footbridge over the creek, then it flew downstream to a point about 75 yards southeast of Font Hill Drive along the creek near some large boulders. �It called several times with a loud chip call. �The eye line was bright white and slightly flared towards its rear end. �Some distant photos are here:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/92602377@N06/8478859225/in/photostream/
>
> Jim Wilkinson
> Columbia, MD
>
> --
> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web athttp://www.mdbirding.com
> Posts can be sent to the group by sending an email to�<mdbi......>
>
>
>
> On Feb 16, 2013, at 2:37 PM, Jim Wilkinson <lakek......> wrote:
>
>
>
> There was a Louisiana Waterthrush at Font Hill Park around 1 PM. �I first saw it near the footbridge over the creek, then it flew downstream to a point about 75 yards southeast of Font Hill Drive along the creek near some large boulders. �It called several times with a loud chip call. �The eye line was bright white and slightly flared towards its rear end. �Some distant photos are here:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/92602377@N06/8478859225/in/photostream/
>
> Jim Wilkinson
> Columbia, MD
>
> --
> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com
> Posts can be sent to the group by sending an email to <mdbi......>
--
|