Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 10:40:01 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Henry Armistead <74077.3176@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Ferry Neck Sept. 14-15 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline "Rigby's Folly", Armistead property on Ferry Neck, Talbot County, MD, near Bellevue. Harry, Liz, Anne & Mary Armistead. September 14, 2002, Sat. overcast, 70-82F., SE 10-15-20, heavy, humid air. 37 species (one less than the highest for our Philadelphia yard but I did take a long nap and spent much time mowing). Peregrine Falcon 1, probably an imm. male. 6th record and earliest by 2 days. Previous records dated from 9/16 - 10/24. Caspian Tern, 2. On 9 dates we have seen 2 in one day, 8 of these dates being in September. Chuck-will's-widow 1. Flushed twice in mid-morning. Like a giant moth. Latest by 8 days. Once, on Aug. 30, 1994, at 5PM I had one fly in in broad daylight and perch nearby in response to a screech owl imitation. Pileated Woodpecker, 2. One was being harassed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk. The 4th time we have had 2 in one day. This species first seen here 9/15/75, went undetected in the previous 25 years.. Fish Crow, 185. Sept. 15. Weather as yesterday but with occasional rain, especially late. A Talbot County Bird Club trip, led by Les Coble, came to visit, 15 observers, including Wayne Bell, Bill & Myra Novack, Jan Reese, Bobbie Sindermann, Margie Steffens, et al. Many of these birds were seen in the early morning by this group. 54 species. 1 imm. & 2 ad. Bald Eagles, 1 Merlin (29th property record; probably an imm. male), 45 Chimney Swifts (ties 4th highest), 5 woodpecker species, 3 gnatcatchers, 2 White-eyed Vireos (both singing continuously), 2 Scarlet Tanagers, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks & 1 Bobolink (scarce this fall). Red-headed Woodpeckers, which bred or at least attempted to the previous 10 years or so, have not been seen here this year. The leaden air, adverse winds, and oppressive humidity I assume are the reasons there was no flight this weekend. One warbler the whole time. It was day-yed. In my previous post on Bloodsworth Island I neglected to mention the ad. male and ad. female Northern Harriers seen there on Sept. 9. I don't know if those were migrants or not. One or 2 pairs breed here each summer. Off topic but fascinating: Paul Lehman, who is still on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, has now found 3 birds there this fall never before seen in North America: Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, and Spotted Flycatcher. Best to all.-Harry Armistead, 523 E. Durham St., Philadelphia, PA 19119-1225. 215-248-4120. Please, any off-list replies to: harryarmistead@hotmail.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================