Warblers and marsh sparrows in southern MD

Steve Sanford (tanager@bcpl.net)
Fri, 23 Apr 1999 21:03:05 -0400


I took today off to enjoy the hoped-for influx of spring migrants. I
decided to head south based on the weather forecast and lured by the
report of marsh sparrows at Point Lookout.

I was rewarded with 10 warbler species, the best of which was a
highly-visible Prothonotary at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, and a Prairie
in a wax myrtle just north of the last parking area at Point Lookout.
The others were B&W (Severn Run), Redstart (Rt 382 at PG-Charles Co
line), Parula's all over the place (about 10 at the cypress swamp),
Ovenbirds, La Waterthrush (Cypress Swamp), Yellowthroats, Pine, and
Myrtle (almost none!).

At Pt Lookout there were about 5 Seaside Sparrows, several Swamp
Sparrows, and 1 or two Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows (per Kyle Rambo
who was there and helping find the sparrows). Unfortunately I can't say
I got a good enough look at the Nelson's to feel I can add them to my Md
list. Kyle says they are pretty regular in migration in the marsh around
the ponds at the end of Pt Lookout. He also recommended the marsh around
the bridge at the end of Cornfield Harbor Dr (which is a southward turn
off Cornfield Harbor Rd which goes west off of Rt 5 about 2 miles north
of Pt Lookout Park. I went there later but a downpour started before I
could really bird it.

Other goodies were a singing Wood Thrush, and a Winter Wren (both at BC
Cypress Swamp), a Hummer, a Chimney Swift, and a steel blue Merlin (all
at Pt Lookout).

Some of you may know former Baltimore-birder Marty Cribb, who has spent
most of the last few years at Pt Lookout. He says he will be moving
permanently to Smith Island next winter (I think next winter) and he may
even have a phone and a computer to let us know what's going on in the
bird-realm there.


      Steve Sanford
      tanager@bcpl.net
      Randallstown, Baltimore Co, MD