Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2001 19:42:52 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Tom Feild Subject: Baltimore Oriole at Patuxent River North Tract In-Reply-To: <16b.642c7a4.295bb4dd@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Hi, On 12/23 I saw what I believe to be a first year Baltimore Oriole at the Patuxent River North Tract. The bird was eating bittersweet about 1/4 mile from the visitor center toward Lake Allen along the side of the road (between the visitor center and the Patuxent River bridge) My first thought was that the bird was a Western Tanager, but I think I was a little too excited after hearing of the bird seen nearby in Montgomery County. I was forced to conclude that the bird was a Baltimore Oriole because I did not get a good look at (or did not note properly!) the bill or tail and I recall the belly being nearly white, the yellow underparts being more warm than greenish, and the wing bars being pure white. Still a nice find, but I wish the bird had allowed me a longer look. I tried to relocate the bird on the 24th, but I was not allowed to leave my car because of managed hunting. (An advantage to birding this spot on Sundays!) There were many other interesting birds around, including about 10 Snipe (Lake Allen), several Red-Breasted Nuthatch (near oriole spot), many hermit thrush, both kinglets, an adult bald eagle (12/24), several winter wrens, and a Phoebe. The Patuxent River North Tract is located off of Route 198 about 1/2 mile East of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and just South of Route 32. It opens at 8:00 and closes before dark. I hope that the oriole makes another appearance for the Bowie Christmas count! Good birding! ******************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ********************************************************* Tom Feild/5568 301/286-6686 GLAS I&T Manager NASA/GSFC Greenbelt, MD 20771 ******************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ********************************************************* ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================