Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 19:46:01 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Stan Arnold Subject: Pheasants in Balt. Co. Comments: cc: Charles Kucera , Paul Canner , Paula Warner , Mark Hollis MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Folks, Charlie Kucera and I spent the last two hours of daylight (1 Feb) at Southwest Area Park, in southwestern Baltimore County, hoping to find Short-eared Owls among the half dozen or so N. Harriers that have been cruising the fields there. We were unsuccessful in this venture, but while we were walking the loop trail in the southern part of the park, I turned to look down the hill toward the Patapsco River, and got a half-second glimpse of a hen pheasant descending into the phragmites. Finally, after about ten visits here, I get to see this bird; during the Midwinter Count last weekend we got to see fresh pheasant tracks in the snow, but no birds. As we continued our hike, we had an opportunity to take a less improved path off the main artery, and were delighted to flush three more pheasants at very close range. This group consisted of two hens and a rooster. While the pheasants have been real skulkers all winter, I imagine they will become more noticeable as nesting season approaches, and the roosters become more vocal. Other birds of interest were both Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, 8 Am. Black Ducks in one of the waterways, and several Savannah Sparrows in the grass to the north of the main road leading to the boat launch. Red-winged Blackbirds were heartily singing their songs of Spring. To get to Southwest Area Park, take exit 5 off of I-695, and head north on Baltimore & Annapolis (B&A) Blvd. Go a couple miles and cross the Patapsco River, then go another mile or so up the hill to the Baltimore Highlands Elementary School on the left. Turn right opposite the school onto Georgia Ave., and go less than 1/2 mile, passing the light rail station and crossing the tracks straight into the park. This park is less than a mile away from Maryland's premier pheasant location--Cherry Hill Park in Baltimore City. Stan Arnold Glen Burnie dy.dx@earthlink.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================