Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 05:15:33 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Arnold Subject: YC Night Heron at Patapsco Valley S.P. Hi Folks, An adult YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was at the small pond in the Glenartney section of Patapsco Valley State Park (Baltimore Co.) at 6:30 this morning. It was sitting on a snag over the pond next to a GREEN HERON. It had two long plumes from the back of its head. To get to this pond, exit south from I-195 (southwest of Baltimore) onto US 1. Then turn immediately right (west) onto South Rd. (there's a brown state park sign), and then turn immediately left into the park. The gate opens at 9 a.m. Proceed past the entry station (there's a $2 fee), all the way to the end of the road at a T. Turn right at the T, then immediately left, and follow the road to a parking area at the end. The pond is right there. Warblers seen or heard this morning include N. PARULA (3), MAGNOLIA (5), BLACKPOLL (6), AM. REDSTART (3), NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (8), OVENBIRD (1), C. YELLOWTHROAT (2) and HOODED (1). Thrushes included WOOD (3), SWAINSON'S (10) and GRAY-CHEEKED (1). Though the YC Night Heron and Gray-cheeked Thrush were first of the year birds for me, they did not constitute my best sighting of the morning. The biggest thrill for me was seeing an adult male PILEATED WOODPECKER feeding two noisy youngsters at a nest hole in the northern part of the park, just west of All Saints Convent. I watched in awe for five or ten minutes, and hope to get back with a camera this evening. Stan Arnold Glen Burnie blackrail@earthlink.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================