Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 11:58:49 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Scott Baron Subject: Western Maryland; June 28, 29 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hello, birders. I visited Garret and Allegany Counties this weekend and it was a really nice visit. I had some good birds and the weather was warm and sunny. My best birds were HENSLOW'S SPARROW and PINE SISKIN. I found the Henslow's on my third try Saturday morning. I don't think I was at the right location at my first stop, Old Legislative Road, in western Allegany County. The second stop, on Burning Mines Road next to the dump, held lots of other sparrows but no Henslow's. I finally found my life Henslow's on Pea Ridge Road in Garret County. About 1/4 mile south of the intersection with Avilton Road I heard 3 Henslow's but couldn't see them. One bird was especially vocal. Another quarter mile down, I heard and finally saw another. I didn't go any further along this road because I wanted to fit in a lot that day but I wonder if there are more Henslow's south of this spot. Thank you to Stan Arnold for posting this location on the listserv. I was surprised to hear a Pine Siskin calling as soon as I got out of the car late Saturday morning at the parking lot of Swallow Falls SP in Western Garrett County. It called repeatedly and sang, too. I saw it fly in a big arc and land in the same grove of trees that it flew from, vocalizing the whole time. Perhaps this was a display of some sort? I suppose this species is not a common bird in Western Maryland. I saw and heard lots of other cool stuff this weekend, including a territorial male Black-thr. Blue Warbler that escorted me away (from nest?) and a pair of Canada Warblers with a fledgling at Swallow Falls SP. Vesper, Savannah and other sparrows were present in the fields along the back roads and Swamp Sparrows were at Finzel Swamp and Cranesville Swamp. I heard a Horned Lark at Burning Mines Road. Other cool birds were seen and heard in various locations this weekend. I also visited Green Ridge SF in Allegany County and took a swing up to Forbes SF in SW Pennsylvania. I understand that some are working on the Breeding Bird Atlas in Maryland. If anyone has specific questions regarding what I saw please let me know. Scott Baron Fairfax, Va. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================