Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 12:15:01 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Mark Miller Subject: possible parakeet in Beltsville MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Like all birders I have heard a fair bit about escapes over the years, but until yesterday I don't think I've ever stumbled across an escaped parakeet myself. I'm not sure of the identity of this bird, or if it even was a parakeet, but I thought I would post it so that others in the area might be on the lookout if so inclined. I was on USDA property just off Route 1 and just north of the D.C. bypass in Beltsville yesterday late afternoon, around 5:00pm. I think the nearest public intersection is Rte 1 and Sunnyside Ave. For those of you familiar with that USDA area, I was at the sandpit volleyball court. Anyway, there is a small chain link enclosure maybe 40 yards from the volleyball court. I saw a yellow bird perched on that fence next to 2 mourning doves. This yellow bird was slightly smaller than the doves. It was thin with a long tail. The tail seemed to be black with some white feathers mixed in. I did not have optics, so sorry that details are missing. I walked to within 20 yards of the bird and it flew, as did the doves. The bird had a high round yellow forehead that sloped down abruptly. I could not make out a bill which suggests the bill was short. When the bird did fly it had rather pointed wings and remained with the doves (which suggests it was a good flier). I saw no colors on the head, wings or body except yellow and possibly some white. I also heard an odd call as it was perched, but I'm not 100% certain the call came from this yellow bird. The bird was not a goldfinch. It was too big, and did not have the correct proportions. It also was not a yellow warbler. I do not know what else it could have been except an exotic, unless some native birds have odd color morphs or plumage phases unknown to me. I've never seen a yellow dove before and this bird did not appear to be a dove. Anyway, I did not have binoculars, and am not certain what it was, but everything about it suggested parakeet to me (except that I tend to think of parakeets as mostly green). If someone there has some bird feeders out perhaps this bird will stop by. Mark W. Miller Laurel, Maryland __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================