Re: 'Warbler Doldrums' in Montgomery County
Howard Youth (hmyouth@erols.com)
Mon, 03 May 1999 17:02:01 -0400
Yesterday, I had a similar experience to Paul's. I checked out Layhill Park
from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and found the birding very slow. After returning home,
I checked my records for the same date last year. Last year, my walk at
Layhill yielded 68 species; this year, just 44. Granted, I spent twice as
much time birding last year (3 hrs. versus 1.5), but yesterday I swiftly
covered the same ground, although I missed sunrise activity.
Highlights yesterday: five warbler species (no migrant species), one male
indigo bunting, one solitary sandpiper, and one singing male orchard oriole.
Highlights last year: 15 warbler species (including palm, black-thr. blue,
no. waterthrush, Kentucky warbler, yellow-breasted chat), rose-breasted
grosbeak, bobolink, one male indigo bunting, one solitary sandpiper, and 4
orchard orioles.
Looking forward to a weather change!
Howard Youth
Rockville, MD
hmyouth@erols.com
At 01:15 PM 5/3/99 -0400, you wrote:
>This weekend I birded two areas which, based on past experience, are good
>for migrating warblers at this time of year. On Saturday I walked along the
>Watts Branch Stream in Montgomery County, and on Sunday I visited the C&O
>canal above and below Violette's lock. Although Yellow Rumps were common, I
>did not see nor hear ANY other transient warbler species. Furthermore, the
>summer resident species were also rather sparse. There were some Parulas,
>and three Worm Eating were calling near Blockhouse Point along the canal.
>My spirits were buoyed, however, by my first Baltimore Orioles of the year.
>
>I wonder if the stormy weather in the Carolinas has delayed the next wave of
>the migration, while the recent arrivals have moved on. I certainly hope
>they make it here in time for the May Count this Saturday.
>
>Paul Zucker
>Potomac, MD
>