Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 19:51:16 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Greg Miller Subject: Re: southern Md help MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Linda, For Seaside Sparrows, park at the point and walk back to the grassy marshland between the two ponds. A little pishing should bring success. Marsh Wrens are also present. Brown Pelicans can be seen on either side of the point, and sometimes can be picked up with a scope scanning the Bay. The group of diving ducks and scoters can usually be found around the fishing pier. I only birded Friday around the picnic area near the point. Ft. Lincoln can be good for migrants, too. The campground is the best spot for Brown-headed Nuthatches (sometimes at the feeder at the ranger station or the feeder near the campground entrance). The wooded areas along Cornfield Harbor Rd are sporadic, but always worth a quick stop to listen. Cornfield Harbor Dr should have at least Clapper Rails and maybe Virginias. Soras are moving right now, but I did not get them Friday. The sharp bend along Longneck Rd is wet and had Least Sandpipers, 4/28. The hedge along this area is also good for Orchard Oriole and Blue Grosbeak. Calvert Cliffs St Pk had a great variety of woodland species on Friday and I would highly recommend the 5-mile loop. Start down the Red Trail and follow it to the Bay. Hooded Warbler will be near the top of the Red Trail along the tiny creek. Near the boardwalk, you should pick up the resident Prothonotary Warbler and both Scarlet and Summer Tanagers. Red-headed Woodpecker can sometimes be found on the dead snags. This is a good spot for both Waterthrushes, too. On your return, take the service road up the steep grade. Along the steep hillside on your left is a great place for Worm-eating Warblers and thrushes. When you reach the intersection with the Red Trail again, you can take that stretch back to the parking area. On Parran Rd en route to Jefferson Patterson Park & Memorial, be sure and check the second and third big fields on the right for Wild Turkeys. Upon entering the park, listen in the woods for migrants. When you break out of the woods and can see the visitor center, listen for Yellow-throated Warbler and Summer Tanager. The Woodland Trail behind Jefferson Patterson Park and Memorial Visitor Center can also be productive this time of year. Bottomland birds along the creek and thrushes and migrants along the topside. Indigo Buntings can come through at this time in great numbers. I had a flock of 50+ birds last year! Eastern Bluebirds are a dead-ringer along the cedar trees below the visitor center. On your way out, be sure and check the wet depression on the right for Green Heron and possibly Blue-winged Warblers. Eastern Kingbirds like the field just beyond this area. If you park at the River Trail, you'll see a brushy hedgerow off to your right. Look for Yellow-breasted Chat here. If you decide to do Greenwell St Pk, pick up a trail map at the big brown sign on the left side of the entrance road. The Red Trail will be your best bet for woodland variety and migrant warblers. The White Trail is also good. Don't forget to check the Patuxent River for birds, too (you may see Royal and Forster's Terns). Unfortunately, since the oil spill, numbers of birds in general seem to be down. The primary growth field just beyond the model airplane field is great for Prairie Warblers. For Prairies in Calvert, take the road to Flag Ponds and stop under the power lines and roll down your windows. It will take you .5 seconds to hear one of the many Prairie Warblers! You may also get Orchard Orioles, Blue Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings here, too. Be sure and make a pitstop at the marshy area near North Beach on Rt 261, just south of the Anne Arundel line for shorebirds at low tide. I found the American Bittern Friday, just below the blue water tower. Hope this helps. Good birding! -Greg Miller Hollywood, MD __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/ ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================