Date:         Thu, 16 Mar 2000 06:35:02 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Mike Callahan <raptorsrule@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Dusk Chorus
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Hi OSPREYers,

Yesterday, March 15, I saw my first Zebra Swallowtail at the
Environmental Education Center in Nanjemoy.  The previous day I saw a
medium sized dark brown or black butterfly with a yellow band along the
end of the back wings.  Could a butterfly person help me out.

In the late afternoon and into the evening I birded at the Patuxent River
Park, Jug Bay Natural Area in Prince George's County and saw some
interesting sights.  There were loads of Snipe (I stopped counting at 50)
foraging on what little bit of the mud flats left exposed during the high
tide.  There may have been a Semi palmated Plover on the flats, but the
trees were blocking a clear view.  It was interesting watching them
progress along the flats as they probed and walked.  I am used to seeing
them sit still or flying overhead.  The night shift was waking up now and
I heard a Barred Owl make its initial whooaw sound.

Birded through dusk at the end of Croom Airport Road and got good views
of Pine Warbler sitting in the setting sun on a limb about 10 feet off of
the ground.  It was picking bugs from the tree.  It was a afternoon of
behavior observations.  I saw another Pine Warbler hawking into a swarm
of gnats.   I walked a dirt road through the woods and was attracted by
movement on the ground ahead of me.  A bird flew up to a low branch near
the puddle it had come form.  Stood about 20 feet from it and watched it
make its way back to the puddle.  No sunlight coming through the trees
now so I had to concentrate to identify colors and patterns.  It was a
Hermit Thrush that allowed me to get within 10 ft while it took a bath.
Same behavior as it's cousin the Robin.  I watched it for a few minutes
until if flew back into the woods.  The song birds were all calling as
they settled in for the night.  10 minutes later the Barred Owls were
calling in full force and a heron flew over head.  I could only see the
silhouette of the heron it was too small to be a Great Blue, may have
been a night heron?  I returned to the car and treasure the activities I
had observed.  It can be just as fun observing bird behaviors for the
first time as getting a new life bird.

I hope you had a great day and good birding!

Naturally,
Mike Callahan

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