Sightings for Sunday April5
Warblerick (Warblerick@aol.com)
Sun, 5 Apr 1998 18:54:40 EDT
I had a bird-walk scheduled from The Backyard Naturalist for Saturday morning,
but the weather cancelled it. So instead, I did the walk this morning by
myself, to the same location, the Triadelphia Reservoir watershed area.
First stop was Brighton Dam, where I scoped out 3 very nice breeding plumaged
adult COMMON LOONS, and a single DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, and my first OSPREY
of the season, perched in a tree on the Howard County side. Also had a couple
of TREE SWALLOWS skimming the water. Near the dam were 3 female RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS.
Second stop was Triadelphia Lake Rd., down by the boat ramp. I walked along
the trail to the top of Triadelphia Lake, and scared up a WILD TURKEY from the
ridge where the reservoir narrows. It flew across the water to the Howard
County side, and landed in the woods, where it began foraging. I tried but
could not get it in my scope. Neat to see it fly across the water, as I got to
view it from above, with a nice view of its light brown uppertail. At the top
part of the reservoir just a few more cormorants and a pair of Canada Geese.
Nothing of note near the picnic area nor along the cemetary trail.
Driving back out along Triadelphia Lake Road I had a single foraging RED-
BREASTED NUTHATCH in the pine woods.
I ended with a walk along the fire trail at Greenbridge Road to view the BALD
EAGLES (one sitting on nest). Coming back out, my last good bird was a calling
BARRED OWL, which remained hidden from [my] view in the pine woods along the
trail. It did a perfect "who cooks for you, who cooks for you alll" and after
I responded with my own version, it called twice more.
I initially set out with hopes of finding gnatcatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, or
perhaps some other early warblers, but was content with my days finds.
Rick Sussman
Ashton, MD
Warblerick@aol.com
301-589-4848