Re: warbler spot
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Wed, 17 Mar 99 08:24:22 EST
The favorite warbler spot for many folks is the Rock Creek ridge near picnic
area 17, vicinity of the Nature Center and R.C. Maintenance Yard. This spt,
the highest ridge in Rock Creek, attracts a lot of birds and under optimum
conditions can be spectacular. We've gone to lots of other places -- C&O
Canal, Roosevelt Is., Great Falls, etc. and nothing beats this spot. It is
a migrant trap and we have seen, on good days, 24 species plus lots of
other migrants, incl. all the expected empids, vireos, thrushes etc. Is also
quite good for sparrows. In the Maintenance Yard itself, last fall, we had
Clay-colored Sparrow, multiple Connecticut, Mourning, Golden-winged and Orange-
crowned Warblers, Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers, etc.
Yes, this is where the powers that be want to place the cell-phone tower.
Talk about not knowing what you've got 'til it's gone!
This area is discussed in detail in Claudia Wild's book. It is best when
good early migratory weather is followed by early morning fog or showers,
classic fall-out conditions.
Gail Mackiernan
gail@umdd.umd.edu