Date:         Sat, 18 Jan 2003 22:44:31 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Joel Martin <JCDLMARTIN@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Pintails, Tree Sparrows at Centennial Lake
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If anyone is still looking for Pintails in Howard County, 2 females and 1
male were at Centennial Lake this afternoon about 4 PM. I did not see the
Goldeneye but without a scope I could have overlooked some things. There was
a surprising amount of open water opposite the boat launch area. Also present
were a pair of Canvasbacks, another of Am Black Ducks, a few Ruddies, and a
Pied-billed Grebe, along with the numerous Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards and
Canada Geese.

Just uphill from the pavillion, in the patch of trees and brush with the
"Memorial Woods" sign, were at least 2 American Tree Sparrows, along with
Song Sparrows and Juncos. A strange song was coming repeatedly out of the
brush but I couldn't pin down the singer. It was a long, high, thin rambling
warble that sort of trailed off at the end. When I got home and listened to
the Stokes CD, it seemed to match Tree Sparrow pretty well. Didn't seem
exuberant enough to be a Winter Wren. I've never heard a Tree Sparrow sing,
but I guess to a tundra breeder even 25 degrees feels like spring. It was
good to see them again on such a crisp day.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
jcdlmartin@aol.com

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