Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 09:13:25 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Wilkerson, Jordan T." Subject: WOW! --and-- Warbler/Vireo ID help Comments: cc: "Salvini, Karen" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain MDOsprey, So I thought I'd check out my community garden plot at JHUAPL in Howard County before work this morning. As I stepped out of the car I was surrounded by sparrows. Mostly Chipping and Song residents, but also a single WHITE CROWNED Sparrow being harassed by a few Songs. Then some motioned caught my attention in the near-by woods-edge. With binoculars in hand, I dutifully heeded the birding call. As I stood trying to pick either of the 2 calling BLACK THROATED GREENs out of the 50 (or so) YELLOW RUMPEDs I heard at least 2 PARULAs and a REDSTART. Then a BLACK AND WHITE and a calling RED-EYED Vireo (in turn) bounced into my field of view. Every time I put down the binoculars (required from the severe case of WNS --"warbler neck syndrome"), I watched dozens of warbler sized birds fly just over the treetops and continue in a north-northwesterly direction. Most of them didn't land in my area. While trying to pick out non-Yellow Rumps from the growing crowd, I heard 2 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS work their way past and also a heard single SCARLT TANAGER and BALTIMORE ORIOLE calling. I lost count of calling OVENBIRDS after 10, but I did hear the downward inflected "veer" call note of a thrush. It was too perky to be the Veery, so my guess is GRAY-CHEEKED. So somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 individuals (most never stopped to be ID) in less than 20 minutes. Despite the shortness of this excursion, I was still late for work. ID HELP PLEASE: I did spot one warbler-sized bird that someone may be able to help with. My view was mostly from directly underneath and obscured by trees and, of course, back-lit (naturally). It had a dull yellow tint to the underside, and appeared to be a little darker on the belly. The entire chest had a streaked look to it. The under-tail was darker than the belly, but not black. The sides were a little darker than the belly; more of an olive color. No distinguishable eyebar or other markings, and no wing bars. All these notes were from very brief views. I know what I want it to be, but I've never seen one of those. Anyway, what a morning; I wish I had more time. Later, Jordan Cloverly, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================