[MDOsprey] Allegany Birding 6/10-11 (long)
GREGORY.B.MILLER@bge.com
Mon, 14 Jun 1999 13:57:16 -0400
Howdy All!
I arrived in Cumberland about 7:30pm and met Ray Kiddy on Thursday night,
6/10. We birded locally from about 2000 to 2130. We tallied 36 species
for the evening, highlighted with a GREAT HORNED OWL and a field full of
singing WHIP-POOR-WILLs.
Ray and I were on the road by 0430 on 6/11 en route to Dan's Mountain. Fog
was thick, wet, and soupy. Still, we were early enough for dawn
chorus. We stopped at 0515 near the top near where the woods opened up
into a stand of primary growth--good habitat for one of my top targets,
Golden-winged Warbler.
It was a chilly, wet 60 F. I didn't mind it much as I was birding new
territory--new for me in June anyway. The thick fog added a sense of
otherworldliness to the morning as we picked out songs of birds whose calls
rang out in the mist. It was thrilling to listen to the sounds of so many
birds singing at once. The many Robins and Yellow Warblers were so
overpowering, it was sometimes difficult to isolate other songs, yet their
bright melodies added a sense of pure pleasure to me in the gray morning
light.
By 0700 we had added many species to the day list (and many to my county
list), but we missed hearing any Golden-winged Warblers. We drove on to an
open area of fields on the mountain side. We heard a familiar _t'slick_
before we even got out of the truck. We looked at each other in delight--a
HENSLOW'S SPARROW! We got out and searched for the ventriloquist, but
without success in the fog.
After adding a few other field species, we checked a couple more spots for
Golden-winged Warbler. Nada. we drove over to Garrett County to Finzel
Swamp. On the way in to the parking area, I heard my first of several
ALDER FLYCATCHERs. Hooray! Among the Alder Flycatchers was a single
WILLOW FLYCATCHER calling a distinct _fitz-bew_. One flycatcher was making
an unidentifiable 'tweener call--one which I shall dub a "Willder"
Flycatcher. I was excited to find both Alder and Willow Flycatchers
together at one breeding locale. It is something I had not personally
experienced up to this point.
A cold, wet, foggy hike around the pond produced a singing ROSE-BREASTED
GROSBEAK--a bird I had missed altogether during Spring migration this year.
We headed to lower elevations and warmer temperatures. Spring Gap along
the C&O Canal produced several good birds, sunshine, and warmer temps.
Finally it was on to another location to look for a Brewster's Warbler.
Unfortunately, the bird is either gone or was just silent and invisible to
us. We decided to make one last attempt at Golden-winged Warbler. Back to
Dan's Mountain we traveled, and this time we were met with pleasant temps
and sunshine.
We went to the place where we'd stopped first thing in the morning. Nada
again. We headed back out toward Henslow's territory with good
Golden-winged habitat along the way. We made one final stop just before we
reached the open field. It was quiet again. This time, Ray and I split up
and scanned the trees for movement. Finally I heard Ray call out in a
hushed tone, "I've got it! It's over here!"
I hurried carefully (an oxymoron?) down the slope through a couple bushes
into a small opening where Ray was standing. In a moment, my eyes caught
the movement of a small bird. A splash of brilliant yellow flashed into my
binoculars as a male GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER in full breeding plumage hopped
into my view. I could feel myself exhale as it hopped out of view just as
quickly and I took the time to refind it. What a thrilling way to end the
day!
A complete list of birds follows:
06/10 - Cumberland area
Mallard
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Red-winged Blackbird
Great Horned Owl
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Green Heron
Common Nighthawk
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
06/11 - Allegany County
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Red-eyed Vireo
Broad-winged Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Black-billed Cuckoo
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Green Heron
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Great Crested Flycatcher
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-capped Chickadee
Yellow-breasted Chat
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
N. Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
Brown Thrasher
Brown-headed Cowbird
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Grasshopper Sparrow
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue Jay
Golden-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
06/11 - Garrett County (Finzel Swamp)
Great Crested Flycatcher
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-capped Chickadee
Mallard
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-winged Blackbird
Mourning Dove
Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
American Crow
Common Raven
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Wren
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch
Sorry for the mixed up order. It was my second weekend entering data in
the field with my Palm Pilot (handheld computer). I have data in checklist
format with checkboxes and the ability to sum columns in the field and sort
as well. Anyway, we hit a bump and I hit sort by accident. I didn't have
a column loaded for AOU or ABA sequence so I lost the original sort this
time. I'll remedy that the next time 'round. The beauty of a handheld
computer in the field is the ability to transfer the data to my PC via a
cable connection. This saves me having to re-enter the information. So
much for my sales pitch. <grin> It was a great day out birding. Many
thanks to Ray Kiddy for his assistance.
-Greg Miller
Baltimore, MD