Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 15:12:23 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Dalcio Dacol Subject: Olive-sided Flycatcher at Pennyfield Lock I went to the C&O Canal around Pennyfield Lock this morning (9/1/01). Birdwise it was slow. I walked till Violet's Lock and there I found a very young squirrel on the grass besides the towpath. At first I thought it was dead but then I noticed it was breathing. I picked it up and it was listless. I wrapped the squirrel in some paper napkins I had in my pocket and decided I would take it to the Second Chance Wildlife Center in Gaithersburg. So I started walking back to my car with the wrapped up squirrel in my right-hand. After warming up it started gripping my wrist firmly with its front paws but otherwise it was quiet. As I got to the pond areas I spotted the flycatcher on the very top of a dead tree. I presume this was the same bird that Dick Homan saw yesterday. So I was there holding my binos and focusing with my left hand while holding a live squirrel on my right hand... As I watched it the flycatcher caught a large dragonfly. After smacking it a few times against the branch it swallowed the whole thing, wings and all! For a short moment the lower body and the wings where sticking out of the flycatcher's mouth. I left soon after that as the young one started getting more animated. Soon the young squirrel was croaking softly and getting a little more active. When I got to my car I put it in a paper bag and soon it curled up and slept. At Second Chance it was examined and apart from having lots of fleas it seemed to be alright. He will be kept there till he is old enough to be released (he was estimated to be 5 weeks old). Most likely it fell out of a nest and got stunned by the fall. Soon he wil be out there raiding somebody's birdfeeder... Dalcio Dacol Poolesville, Maryland ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================