Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 15:46:37 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Rick Sussman Subject: sightings for 9/15 and 9/16 Comments: To: voice@capaccess.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Meadowside Nature center, Saturday 9/15 in an MOS birdwalk with 18 participants, we had 51 species between 7:30 and 1:30. Best find was a nice male CAPE MAY WARBLER, seen by most (those who stuck with the leader) as it fed and very slowly moved through a large oak tree (a life bird for many), and a single, early RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. Other good finds were Coopers Hawk, a few Broad-winged Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and later after most participants had left, 3 adult Bald Eagles which flew right over the main meadow at about 1:10 P.M. followed by an American Kestrel. Low numbers of warblers in general, and also low species count of these and vireos, with no White-eyed, 1-2 Red-eyed and 2 Yellow-throated. No B-G Gnatcatcher was a surprise. Meadowside Nature Center Sunday Sept. 16 : I birded here again, by myself mostly. First bird seen and heard as I exited my van was a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, followed by 7 more flying through the parking area and trees. At 7:25 another (?) adult Bald Eagle flew over the parking lot heading south! An immature Cooper's Hawk flew from heavy cover to a tree nearby, spreading its tail while perched (don't know exactly why it was doing this), and then heading off down the tree line. Warblers were still scarce, but more varied than yesterday with Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Greens present today. Scarlet Tanager seen in parking lot trees. I strolled through some of the same areas we hit yesterday, finding activity slow after a flurry in the parking lot. As I explored the "environmental study area" a large kettle of Broad-wings headed over, 48 in all, follwed by another 12. I headed back towards the main meadow to get a clearer picture of the sky. Here I ran into a young Japanese couple, with binoculars and a nice Nikon 500mm camera, and I stopped to point out a soaring Cooper's Hawk. We stood against the fence here for probably an hour watching huge numbers of Broad-winged Hawks pass over, numbering in the 100's, perhaps 1000's. An Osprey flew overhead. It was magical! They were in awe. I was in awe! I can only imagine the spectacle in Veracruz, magnified by many times the sight we were seeing here. I came home and took the dog for a walk, bringing my binoculars. Here I watched many more Broad-wings, some vultures and 2 more adult Bald Eagles pass overhead. Just as I got home, my eye caught another dark speck above; another Bald Eagle, this time a sub-adult! I went out in the back yadr and watched even more hawks pass high overhead. Kettle after mounting kettle of Broad-winged Hawks way up high, heading SW. I can only imagine the broad front these birds must have passed through today, with near perfect weather. Still in awe, Rick Sussman Ashton, MD warblerick@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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================