Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 19:19:31 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Kevin Caldwell Subject: Wash Co - 1st pine warbler and vireo question Hi - my first posting. Kevin Caldwell. I live in Knoxville MD,off RT 67 just below the AT near 340. Any Fredrick or Wash Co birders interested in getting up in the boulderfields / talus and nooks up on South Mountain (or any other ridges / mtns here or westerly) - please email! I'm trying to arrange for a MOS hike (not a member yet though, and I'd not lead) up on South Mtn, but anyone's who's interested in joining up, give shout. I suppose mid Apr - May ought to show increase in the arrivals. Not to much unusual to report on the mountain all winter except on a full moon hike last month when a 15-20 flock of canadas flew about 20 feet over my head while standing on Weverton Bluffs around 1 a.m. As the wing beats came closer (I was tracking, looking down) I thought a pterydactyl or at least a great horned was about to scalp me; I shrieked for all I was worth til laughter replaced it on seeing who it was. Great horned and Barred's were calling late Jan - mid Feb but I've hearding nothing of late. For the winter, mostly juncos, jays, downy/hairy peckers, and flickers / yellowbellies / pileateds moving now. The typical residents all winter, so I'll not list them. 1st warbler of the year I've seen is a Pine - came to the suet for dinner evening of 23rd Mar and brunch on 24th Mar. Gone. House sparrows and finches probably didn't like it too much on its return north. Song and Field sparrows are at it again. Fish crows seemed absent (maybe quiet) all winter, now calling. Saw first great blue herons flying over the uplands (1 mi. norht of Potomac - only Israel Creek nearby) on the 25th / 26th,none before. Haven't seen them on the Potomac all winter so they must've taken off (?) Vireo question - anyone know if a white eyed vireo would be around the toe slopes woods / fields / yard edges of South Mountain in the valley area at this time of year? Range maps show they reside in summer but no experience with them here. I keep hearing a call thats I can only key to WE vireo, maybe a shorter finch call. Any clues or anyone else nearby heard them or similar song? Finally - does anyone in the general vicinity keep arrival records for migrants? This is our first spring here and I just want to keep eyes peeled and search images on. Thanks! ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================