Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:27:12 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: "Lovelace, Glen" Subject: Recent Atlas sightings (Caroline and Dorchester Cos.) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hello All, I have been working hard to get up to speed on my recently acquired 13 atlas blocks in southern Caroline and northeastern Dorchester Counties. Some highlights: -Red-Headed Woodpecker at a nest hole on MD 313 just south of Chipmans Lane, north of Federalsburg. Seen on 6/15 and 6/22. -Cliff Swallow - 2 probable nest sites under the bridge over the Marshyhope at Brookview (6/21). Will need a boat to confirm - any volunteers? -Bank Swallows at two borrow pits - one off of MD 14 just west of Brookview behind a small church (6/21); the other well off the road (and impossible to confirm) off of Todd Rd north of Smithville. -a very enjoyable hike yesterday morning at Idylwild Wildlife Area. Even though I live just a few miles away, I had never been here before. I took a 4 mile route from Noble Rd east of the bridge over the Marshyhope to the parking area on Houston Branch Rd nearest White Rd. I had 10 species of warbler which I thought was excellent for any one area in June. Included were Pine, Prairie, Chat, B&W, Prothonotary, Ovenbird, Yellowthroat, Yellow-Throated Warbler (heard one), Louisiana Waterthrush and Worm-Eating. Also Osprey, Red-Shouldered Hawk, DC Cormorant. Boots are a must for this hike as one of the ponds adjacent to the trail was overflowing in at least a half dozen spots, flowing down or across the trail and into the flooded Marshyhope which was lapping at the other side. The view at the southern end of the last pond is wonderful; quite unusual a view for Delmarva. And then I got to ford Houston Branch downstream of sluice gates that were fully open (that equals water moving pretty fast). Wound up with only one wet foot. -an Osprey nest on the large power transmission line between Dyer Rd and Cranfield Rd. This nest is south of the nests that can be seen where the power line crosses 404 east of Denton. This nest is 1.5 miles upstream and inland of Williston Lake and 2.5 miles from the Choptank. -White-Breasted Nuthatch seen at the pond along Nagel Rd east of Harmony. And in general, I am getting an education on the distribution of some species like Kentucky Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher. I always thought Kentucky Warbler was a difficult find along the Nanticoke in DE, but have located several along much smaller streams in Caroline Co. I have also found Acadian Flys much farther upstream along small streams than I ever suspected. Conversely, I have found Tree Swallows, Bluebirds and Song Sparrows to be scarcer than expected since I have them around home every summer. Good Birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================