Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:19:55 -0800 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Clive Harris Subject: Hughes Hollow/Lilypons 11/9 In-Reply-To: <1068001943.3fa86a97dbc72@login.nebula.lunarpages.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Spent the morning going round Hughes Hollow and then Lilypons and environs. The strange mix of weather this week - very warm early on and then very cold lately - may have been responsible for the odd mix of birds as well. At Lilypons I had a single American Tree Sparrow, and then around 15 minutes later came across a very late Yellow-throated Vireo (see below). Started at Hughes. Lots of Swamp, White-throated and Song Sparrows, and a single Fox Sparrow. I heard but did not see Red-headed Woodpecker and found a flock of around 10 Rusty Blackbirds. Purple Finch were overhead in ones or twos every few minutes (and have also been at our feeder for the last 2 days). I then headed up to the Lilypons area. The lark flock was on the far side of the bare field on Oland Rd. I did get one bird in my scope that looked like it could well have been a Lapland Longspur but it was too far to confirm. In Lilypons itself, many White-crowned Sparrows now in, and I flushed a single American Tree Sparrow, which sat up obligingly for about half a minute later. This is the earliest I have seen this species. Later on, looking at a clump of trees I noticed a passerine close in with a bright yellow breast. It turned out to be a Yellow-throated Vireo - very neat and clear division between the breast and white underparts, no flank streaking, a full set of yellow spectacles and a heavy bill. No Cave Swallows though; in fact, no swallows at all. Good birding Clive Harris Cabin John, Md --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================