We headed down to Flag Pond State Park this morning. It is on our usual circuit but not usually this early. Very interesting to see how the species composition changes.
The park only opens at 9 so we always bird the fields and trees under the power lines for a couple of hours. Very birdy, as always, but not the same species.
We had no Black-throated Blue Warblers, no Black-throated Green. No orioles or tanagers...we know they've been seen in the past few days and we had a Baltimore Oriole at Rock Creek Park on Wednesday. Both tanagers and both orioles are usually seen here and I expect that they will be there by next weekend. We usually have a Warbling Vireo here, too, but not today. We always have a Yellow-breasted Chat or two - usually low and easy to see - but not today.
There were many Prairie Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Palm Warblers, scads of Northern Parulas, a couple of Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks. A Common Yellowthroat. On the power line stanchions, an adult Bald Eagle and two Red-tailed Hawks. Two Eastern Kingbirds. In the woods, a Red-eyed Vireo, a Worm-eating Warbler and a Hooded Warbler.
We ended up with SIX Worm-eating Warblers today - the other five in the park itself. Also quite a few Yellow-throated Warblers in the park, along with many Hooded Warblers. Ovenbird. White-eyed Vireo. Blue-headed Vireos. Tim found a Red-headed Woodpecker but I missed it.
We spent a little time at the American Chestnut Land Trust but it was already late and warm. Picked up a Redstart and a Brown Thrasher.
Ellen Paul and Tim Boucher
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