Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 14:45:42 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Bob Solem Subject: Re: WOW! --and-- Warbler/Vireo ID help MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jordan, Just wanted to let you know that even though you might have heard a Gray-cheeked Thrush on 2 May, it is highly unlikely. The early date recorded in the state of Maryland as shown in the Field List is 3 May so you'd have to have an excellent written description of the bird. I know you were just guessing as to what you heard, but checking the "yellow book" is an easy way to compare the possibilities with the highly unlikelys. Always glad to have sightings. The Prothonotary was nice! Jo Solem ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wilkerson, Jordan T." To: Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 9:13 AM Subject: [MDOSPREY] WOW! --and-- Warbler/Vireo ID help > 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 > ======================================================================= ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================