Re: Blackbilled Cuckoo at Battery-Kemble

arnie sher samson (arnysher@bellatlantic.net)
Sun, 02 May 1999 12:01:58 -0400


Looking for farmette 20 or so miles from Greater Wilmington
Airport.............10-50-100 acres.....will use 5 or so acres for living with
pond etc. and rest will be natural.......if anyone has a friend or so Will be
eternally grateful....

beverly and arnie sher samson
4710-weatherhill dr
weatherhill farms
wilmington de 19808
phone/fax=302-239-1980
email=arnysher@bellatlantic.net

you all would be welcome............to pursue hobby.........Awaiting your
replies.......Many Thanks........Arnie






GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU wrote:

> Barry and I went down to Battery Kemble Park, DC, this early am to look for
> a Black-billed Cuckoo that has been hanging around for a few days (found by
> Ottavio Janni). We first heard it and then got excellent looks as it sat in
> a large cherry tree, calling OO-oo-oo, OO-oo-oo... We got there around 6:30.
> If you want to look for this bird, park in first lot and walk north (uphill),
> listening for the call. The bird has been in the two very large (huge!) cherry
> trees at the top of the hill, very hard to see but we finally saw it fly and
> was able to get onto it. Two warnings -- it appears to be rather wary and
> too close approach to the trees or even dog-walkers can send it off across
> the street to private property, where it sits and calls out of view. Also,
> it seems to be an early bird, at least as regards calling -- try to get there
> before 7 am. there are tons of web-caterpillars everywhere so hopefully he
> will stay around.
>
> Other birds of note at the park were several Blue-headed and one White-eyed
> Vireo, Black-and-white and Myrtle Warblers. Not much else.
>
> Migration has been slow the last few days -- unfavorable cold NE winds and
> the large storm system to our south has slowed bird movement. The good part
> is that some birds are "off-passge" (like our cuckoo) and may stay for a few
> days. At Rock Creek, the Golden-winged and Cerulean were seen yesterday, but
> not today (we stopped by on way home). As is often the case on cold, NE-windy
> nights, there were more birders than migrants this morning. Wait for the
> warm Southerly air which is promised later this week!
>
> Yesterday we stopped for a while at Great Falls, VA -- again it was very
> slow but we saw Wormeating and Parula (on territory), heard one Cerulean. We
> met some other birders who had seen a Brewster's Warbler about 100 yards N
> of the northernmost parking lot, in an area where Wisteria has overgrown the
> hillside. We went there but no luck, it had gotten sunny and windy. Did find
> a Nashville and heard two Orchard Orioles singing.
>
> Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper