Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 09:02:23 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Simonson, Don (OD/ORS)" Subject: Bird Sightings Comments: To: "ans voice (E-mail)" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" EXOTIC BIRD: a melanistic pheasant, probable JAPANESE GREEN PHEASANT , seen April 24 and April 25 in a backyard and adjoining stubble field, Darnestown, MD (Montgomery County). The bird has not been relocated after April 25, the stubble field was plowed and sprayed. Bird was all black except for slight bluish iridescent patch on neck, small copper-colored flecks on back, and light gray bill. Eye and skin around eye black. Long legs, long tail coming to a point, (but shorter tail proportionally than a Ring-necked Pheasant). Slightly smaller than Ring-necked Pheasant, long powerful legs, long neck. When flushed, bird ran 30 feet and then flew approx 80 yards. No whirring noise from wings on takeoff. MERLIN - April 25, in a backyard in Boyds, Montgomery County, MD SOLITARY SANDPIPER - April 27, Black Hill Regional Park, Mont.Co., MD EASTERN MEADOWLARK - 3 singing, April 25, NIH Animal Center, Poolesville, MOnt Co, MD OSPREY - one Pair, April 26, Seneca, MD Good birding! Don Simonson, MCP phone: 301-496-3348 ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================