TRIP REPORT- CECIL/HARFORD-VESPER SP.
Harry Fisher (fish8553@dpnet.net)
Sun, 11 Apr 1999 13:37:47 -0400
Hi All:
6 birders managed to wrack up 53 species on this trip led by Marcia
Whitmyre between 7:30-11:00 before giving in to ever increasing rain. **
denotes year sightings, for this birder at any rate. Originally billed
as a trip to find 10 sparrow sp, we mangaged to come up with only 6, but
did score **VESPER SPARROW( yesss!!) at GUNTHERS POND in Cecilton. This
lone bird was seen by all observers. First impression was Song Sparrow,
due to initially focusing on a central breast spot as the bird scurried
along, but closer investigation revealed a much lighter bird, quite gray
in overall appearance, a lightly streaked breast, eye-ring, wingbars and
white outer tail feathers. It was extremely active, literally running
back and forth along a muddy field edge of short winter wheat. Don`t
think I`ve ever seen a sparrow run like this. It was not vocalizing.
Also at this spot- **Greater Yellowlegs(1), **Least Sandpiper( 10 ),
Horned Lark ( 12). Marcia picked up 2 Field Sparrows at ELKTON
INDUSTRIAL PARK before she met the rest of us. Other sparrows observed-
Swamp, House , Song , White-throated and Chipping. Backtracking now, we
began the morning at South Chesapeake City CANAL. Of note here were
DC Cormorant- 91( hoped for Scoter when we saw the dark shapes from a
distance.)
Osprey- 1
Greater-black Backed Gull- 2
Great Blue Heron- 2
Next stop was BETHEL WMA where we found a mix of lingering winter
visitors and incoming migrants, partial list as follows:
**Greater Yellowlegs- 1
White-throated sparrow- 10
**Brown Thrasher- 2
Hairy Woodpecker- 1
Wood Duck- 3
Red-tailed Hawk- 1
Both Kinglets, Ruby-crowned in song.
Gnatcatcher- 4
Up to 20 lingering Juncos
Tree Swallow- ~ 2,000
**Northern Rough Wing Swallow- ~ 2 dz.
** Barn Swallow- 6
Yellow-rumps- 14
Swamp Sparrow- 2
** Great Egret- 3
**Common Yellow-throat- 1
**Hermit Thrush- 4
King Fisher- 1
American Coot- ~ 200
We hoped for Moorhen, a good spot for them at Bethel, but no luck. (
Does anyone else have trouble making the tranlsation back from initials
to common name, ie: from
SCJU to slate coloured junco? )
Leslie Fisher
Cecil Co MD