I birded a variety of places in Prince George's County today. At lunchtime, the highlight at Schoolhouse Pond was a Horned Grebe in transitional plumage, molting into breeding plumage, but still showing many winter plumage features. Also present were two flyover Bald Eagles and the pair of Red Shouldered Hawks that appear to be attempting to nest in the woods behind the pond. Waterfowl included Shovelers, Gadwall, and Hooded Mergansers. There were a lot of flyover gulls in the morning, but I only saw Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. A pair of Osprey flew high over the pond as well, looking for fish.
After work, I stopped at Mt. Calvert. Lots of gulls (well over 1,000) were on the mudflats, but again only Herring and Ring-billed were present, along with one adult Great Black-backed Gull. Ducks included Green-winged Teal and 3 Common Mergansers. I found three Tree Sparrows in the shrubby margin to the marsh at the bottom of the hill, and the birds perched up nicely in some exposed branches. Also present over the marsh was a Bald Eagle and Northern Harrier.
I then birded Milltown Landing. In spite of the wind, the highlight here was at dusk when the American Woodcocks began calling and displaying. I counted at least three birds, and got great views as one fluttered high overhead before slowly drifting back down to the ground. Other birds here included 8 Red Breasted Mergansers and 22 Ruddy Ducks on the river, lots of Mallards and Black Ducks, and five harriers hunting over the marsh. Good birding,
Fred Shaffer
Crofton, Anne Arundel
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