Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 21:57:05 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Joel Martin Subject: Meadowbrook Park, Howard Co, 1-28-01 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I spent the last few hours of the afternoon today at Meadowbrook Park near Ellicott City. It was a good day for raptors and sparrows, although I missed Tree Sparrow. There is something indescribable about the late afternoon light at this time of year which makes even the plainest birds glow. The only downer was the many surveyor's flags which seemed to be sprouting up everywhere. I wonder what "improvements" they have in mind for this place. There was at least one pair each of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, maybe more, very active and conspicuous. An immature Cooper's Hawk flushed from the ground almost at my feet, perching close and at eye level with something fresh and bloody in its talons before flying off to finish its meal. Sparrows were Field (2), Savannah (2), Fox (4), Song and Swamp (lots), White-throated (also lots) and White-crowned (8 in one flock). Other treats were N. Flicker (2), Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren (3), Cardinal, Eastern Towhee (2), and American Goldfinch (1). Where are all the goldfinches? Joel Martin Catonsville, MD jcdlmartin@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================