Got up to Hughes Hollow around 7:15 pm, with plans to meet Jim Green after
7:30 for a dusk marsh watch. Jim arrived around 7:40 and we were also
joined by Jim Beard.
Highlight of evening was seeing a total of 9 American Bitterns in flight.
We saw 1st one fly in from northerly direction around 7:45 and drop in to
Buttonbush Swamp behind us on the dike. Around 8:10, 5 bitterns rose from
direction of Buttonbush Swamp and started circling overhead the
impoundments. These birds were joined by 3 more. They all spent about 5
minutes gaining altitude, giving their nasal "squark" flight calls, and
finally in a loose group all headed off in a NE direction. Beginning of
night migration perhaps? About 2-3 minutes later, one bittern returned and
dropped back in to Buttonbush swamp. A false start? more frogs for
him/herself tomorrow!
Other highlights include resident/migrant ducks flying in to roost for
night: 25+ Blue-winged Teal, plenty of Wood Ducks and 3-4 Hooded
Mergansers. As a flight call enthusiast, it was nice to hear the Hooded
Mergs make their croaking flight call as they passed overhead. We also had
4-5 Wilson's Snipe lift off from Buttonbush Swamp and pass overhead. A few
Barred Owls called in the distance.
A pair of Osprey appear to be building a nest on top of cell phone tower to
NE of HH. I watched one of the pair carry a large stick to top of tower. A
Common Yellowthroat could occasionally be heard singing in shruby area to
south as you pass beyond the impoundments.
Jim Beard departed but Jim Green and I remained a little longer hoping to
hear a rail and watching stars come out. Jet traffic and frog noise
interfered with our hopes of hearing a rail and the quarter moon and light
pollution from Leesburg interfered with my enjoyment of the Orion Nebula
but a beautiful spring evening none the less.
Good birding,
Andy Martin
Gaithersburg
--
-- 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 <mdbirding...>
|