Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2003 15:51:52 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Rock Creek today 10/5 Mime-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi -- It started off very actively at Rock Creek Park DC (at the ridge, picnic area 17/18) but shut down early. Same conditions apparently prevailed in the maintenance yard. We did some good birds, however, and altogether about 11 species of warbler plus Philadelphia Vireo and a puzzling Empid. Warblers: Black-throated Green (8), Black-throated Blue (3), Black-and-white (1), Chestnut-sided (3-4), Canada (1, late), Magnolia (2), Redstart (2), Yellowthroat (6), Palm (2, western), plus from the maintenance yard early, Blackpoll and Nashville as well as many of same as at the ridge. Others: Red-eyed Vireo (~12), Philadelphia Vireo (1), Blue-headed Vireo (1), Scarlet Tanager (6), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (3), Swainson's Thrush (6), Gray-cheeked Thrush (1-2), Wood Thrush (2), Winter Wren (1), House Wren (8), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1), White-throated Sparrow (8), Phoebe (3), Pewee (1-2), Brown Thrasher (2). The thrushes are feeding regularly in two trees with Virginia Creeper vines heavy with berries, one in front of the stables and one next to the Nature Center boardwalk. The small empid (seen in the dog run) appeared rather similar to a Least but appeared longer-tailed (very short primary projections), slim narrow bill appearing all dark but lower mandible actually grayish-horn, head grayer than back which had an olive tone, eye-ring present but not a bright as most Leasts, constant tail-flicking and calling with a soft "quip" note, not a sharp call. Showed faint, diffuse gray streaking on sides of breast and flanks. Bit of a head-scratcher, and we all had great views down to 10' at eye level. If anyone wants to take a look and give an opinion, call us at 301-989-1828. Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper Silver Spring, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================