Date:         Tue, 13 Nov 2001 12:05:48 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Gail Mackiernan <gail@MDSG.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Ash-throated NO, No. Goshawk YES!
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Hi all --

Barry and I went back to Kenilworth Park this morning in hopes of seeing
the Ash-throated Flycatcher again, and (perhaps) the Snow Bunting. We met
Mike Bowen at the entrance and walked in, the gate was closed, although it
opened shortly afterwards at probably about 8 am.

Unfortunately we came up empty on the flycatcher, despite searching all
the edges. This doesn't mean it has gone, recall it was not seen all
Sunday afternoon, but it was disappointing.

On the way back to the cars, we heard a tremendous crow cacophony over in
the adjacent Aquatic Gardens. We all walked down the little mowed cut to
where you can look over the back side of KAG and saw a large flock of very
excited crows mobbing something in a large tree. From the intensity of the
mobbing we suspected Great Horned Owl. However, the raptor burst out with
crows in hot pursuit and it was an adult Northern Goshawk! A big one,
considerably larger than the crows. It flew over our heads and over
Kenilworth Park.

We then retrieved our cars and drove and walked the bare fields and some
plowed-up areas looking for the Snow Bunting, to no avail. At that time,
at teh furthest south end of the park, we saw a raptor soaring and
flapping over KAG and in the scope it proved to be the Goshawk. So it may
still be around.

Other birds of interest to the D.C. lister were flyover Horned Larks (3)
and three Meadowlarks in the no-mowed area. We also saw Swamp, Song,
White-throated, Savannah and Fox Sparrow. Plus the largest flock of House
Finches -- all apparently healthy -- that we have seen in some months
(about 100).

We later walked through KAG, not seeing much else but three Winter Wrens,
one singing!

Cheers,
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper

=======================================================================
To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com
with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey
=======================================================================
=========================================================================