Re: [MDOsprey] Layhill Park 9/13

Warblerick@aol.com
Thu, 16 Sep 1999 06:57:29 EDT


Joe, 

I birded Layhill Park on Sunday Sept 12, and had a really nice group of 
birds, including a fly-by N. Harrier, a fly-over Osprey, 18 Broad-winged 
Hawks (12 in one kettle), Great-crested Flycatcher, E. Wood-Pewee, and E. 
Phoebe, a probable Least Flycatcher, Red and White-eyed Vireos, a number of 
hummingbirds, all the woodpeckers except Red-headed and YBSA, Carolina and 
House Wrens, B-G Gnatcatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, N. Parula, Chestnut-sided 
Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warbler (male), 
Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler (male), Black & White 
Warbler, American Redstarts, C. Yellowthroats, and a Canada Warbler. 

 My best find though, was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW, seen in the small overgrown 
field on the left just before you reach the southernmost soccer field. I have 
had them often in this park (in fact it seems to be a fairly reliable place 
for them), but this was the earliest one for me here. The only other sparrows 
were a group of 3 Song Sparrows near the same spot. Walk clockwise around 
this small overgrown field, and you may find it as it flys up and lands in 
the blackberry brambles to stare back at you. If you "pish" for it, and it 
appears, it may raise its' "crest" for you, something not all the field 
guides show or mention. A very delicately beautiful bird.

 This small park is usually very active during the migration season, but as 
Paul O'Brien said in a previous message (regarding pelagics, I think) timing 
is everything!
 The Lincoln's may very well hang around for a time, as they usually seem to 
do. 

Happy birding, 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
Warblerick@aol.com