Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 22:30:11 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Les Roslund Subject: Re: Talbot County MOS Trip Results MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jean - I have not been back to Jean Shehan Sanctuary since the Apr 14th visit, but prior to the visit, I made a scouting trip on April 13th, and saw many more Yellow-throated Warblers then than on the 14th. On the 13th, I found them in two places. A group of at least five were moving very rapidly atop tall loblolly pines in the heavily wooded section closest to the east end of the property. There is a road to the right that one can take that goes into the woods and it was near the end of that road that I heard and then saw the group of Yellow-throated Warblers. Several were vocalizing with regularity. I was there around noon, on a pleasant day, and watched them for as much as 20 minutes. They were still present when I left. The second site was where I took the birding group on the 14th. Access to it begins on the right at the west end of the same dense woods as mentioned above. One can drive along the side of the woods, and then stay to the left as the woods ends. Continue until the road forks. This fork really is merely evidence of an available driving loop. The Yellow-throated Warbler that gave the great views for all was a slow-moving but strongly calling bird found about 1/2 way to the water along the path/road/fork to the left. Both days this bird was remaining lower in the pines, and calling with regularity. I have not particularly sought the Yellow-throated Warblers on that property during the nesting season, so have not recorded sightings of them there. In fact, according to my records, there had been only one prior sighting of a Yellow-throated Warbler on the property since the property was given to the Audubon Society around 1996. For the Jean Shehan Sanctuary, there is almost no information regarding what birds nest there. Data from my own visits to the property in 1997 and 1998 were the basis for the bird list of the site. Birds shown to be present on the property during their normal breeding periods could be presumed to at least possibly be breeding there. But, since Yellow-throated Warblers were not around with any regularity in those years, they were not breeding there then. Perhaps this year can be a first - for I would agree, the habitat looks quite suitable. Hope this information has been of help. Our Maryland 'Yellow Book' indicates that historically there have been records of Yellow-throated Warblers breeding in Talbot County, and that the earliest reported nest date is May 16. Perhaps a visit to the sanctuary around or shortly after that date would give the best chance for confirming their nesting status at the place. Les Roslund Lroslund@bluecrab.org Talbot County Easton, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================