Western Maryland Weekend

Jlstasz@aol.com
Mon, 16 Feb 1998 18:17:02 EST


Hi Folks!

I just got back from a 3-day birding trip to western Maryland. Saturday in
Washington County, Sunday in Garrett, and Monday in Allegany.

Washington was dull except for the chickadees. Those who wish to puzzle over
"What kind of Chickadee is That?" should try Long Ridge along Woodmont Road
[DeLorme 69, B5]. Although some birds are certainly Carolinas, many appear to
be hybrids. East of Hancock most or all are Carolinas....on the top of Sidling
Hill the few birds I saw were Black-capped. Please note that the Yellow Book
has a "?" for Carolina Chickadee in Allegany County. This is based upon 2
reports....one from Michael O'Brien and one from me. I will be looking hard at
chickadees in Allegany and try to pin down, with photos and tape-recordings, a
valid Carolina.

Garrett was Great! Even though there was a heavy snow/ice cover on most fields
and quantitaively few birds to be found....Winter in Garret has its own
appeal. The day was sunny with no wind and a high of 40 [13 at dawn]. I
traveled 200 miles and hit the usually places like New Germany, Deep Creek
Lake, Swallow Falls, Pleasant Valley, and the Grantsville area. The day total
of 34 species is better than I have done on some Xmas Bird Counts up there.
Highlights:

New Germany, at the headquaters feeder: 40+ of Pine Siskins,  4 Evening
Grosbeaks, a single flyby White-winged Crossbill, and a flyby flock of 15
Common Redpolls.

Deep Creek: nearly all frozen:  100+ American Coots,  1 male Green-winged
Teal, 1 imm. male Lesser Scaup, 1 female Ring-necked Duck, 3 male Common
Mergansers, and the several hundred Dock Mallards.

Swallow Falls: 40+ Pine Siskin, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Red Crossbill male,
30+ White-winged Crossbill. The crossbils were feeding high in the
hemlocks....they are silent when feeding, so You have to keep a sharp lookout
for movement. They call only when in flight...and not always then.

Herrington Manor: a few Evening Grosbeaks.

I did not find: Downy Woodpecker,  any sparrow except a few Slate-colored
Juncos], any blackbird. 

Allegany County was a mix of interesting finds and slow periods. Best finds
were 11 Northern Pintail at Pinto Marsh and 3 Black Vultures at Oldtown. 

Best Birds of the Trip: 3 Black Vultures over the road betwen Swallow Falls
and Herrington Manor! My first ever in Garrett County.

Non-bird of note: A roadkill Spotted Skunk along Mercersburg Road, north of
Clear Spring, Washington County. The first evidence I have seen of Spotted
Skunk in Maryland.

No butterflies or dragonflies...maybe next trip.  :-)

Good Birding!

Jim 

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com