Date: 5/20/13 7:49 am
From: Gail B. Mackiernan %<3Ckatahdinss...>%3E <katahdinss...>
Subject: [MDBirding] Wheaton Regional Park and a bit of Brookside today
Hi all,

A rather gloomy morning didn't promise much, although a Blackpoll foraging in our yard's flowering locust was a hopeful sign. However my initial speciulation was correct -- a very "silent spring" day -- no evidence of migration and even the expected breeders seem very thin on the ground, with the notable exception of Baltimore Orioles. I would estimate that numbers of Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Wood-pewees, and Acadian Flycatchers are but 1/2 to 1/3 of expected numbers based on our fairly long-term records. Wood thrushes are down a bit but probably within normal variation. I have barely heard or seen a Scarlet Tanager. Bit disheartening. I hope it is just this spring's lousy weather and unfavorable winds, but a week in St. Louis earlier this month was also virtually migrant-less.

Anyway, I did see a few interesting things and also heard a dueting pair of Barred Owls. Didn't spend much time in Brookside as they were mowing. Checked all the snags for Olive-sided FC but no luck.

Birds of interest below:

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

52 species

Wood Duck 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Barred Owl 2 heard only; dueting early
Chimney Swift 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Acadian Flycatcher 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Warbling Vireo 1 in Brookside, on territory
Red-eyed Vireo 3 very low numbers
Tree Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 10
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 1
Swainson's Thrush 3
Wood Thrush 4
Gray Catbird 12
Cedar Waxwing 6
Ovenbird 2
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 3
Chipping Sparrow 6
Scarlet Tanager 1 heard only
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 4

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