[MDOsprey] Paean to summer and a prelude to winter
Warblerick@aol.com
Sun, 26 Sep 1999 20:49:59 EDT
I went to Layhill Park yesterday with Howard Youths MOS walk, but birding was
relatively slow there. Warblers were nearly nonexistent but we did have nice
looks at Veery, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes, as well as E.
Bluebirds, and American Robins, with a few Wood Thrushes still calling from
the woods. We had, I think, about 43 species for the morning.
Later, returning from a trip to Rockville, I saw about a dozen flyover
Common Nighthawks, at roughly 4:30 P.M.
Today, feeling the need for my "warbler fix" as Dave Mozurkewich calls it, I
headed over to a patch of woods just north of Randolph Rd. near where Kemp
Mill Road comes in. I was hoping to find a Connecticutt Warbler, based on a
tip last year from Gail MacKiernan, but never having birded here, I did not
find the proper area. What I did find however, was a spot in the woods where
there were huge numbers and varieties of birds. The activity was really heavy
at times, with birds above, below and right in front of me. Flocks of Robins
made up the bulk of the birds, with good numbers of feeding Flickers as well.
There were warblers of 11 species, including groups of Black-throated Blues
(feeding nearly at my feet), Black-throated Greens, Chestnut-sided,
Magnolias, Redstarts, many Tennessees and Blackpolls, Northerns Parulas,
Black and Whites, Common Yellowthroats and a single Yellow-rumped.
I also saw a first fall male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a pair of Scarlet
Tanagers, a pair of Swainson's Thrush, Red-eyed Vireos, many chickadees and
titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Towhees,
Carolina Wrens, Eastern Wood-pewees, Eastern Phoebe, lots of Blue Jays and
Catbirds, a single Indigo Bunting, Song Sparrows, lots of Goldfinches and
Grackles.
And, as a prelude of winter, I had my first WINTER WREN, my first
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, a female PURPLE FINCH, and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.
The wren was a real treat and surprise, feeding only a short distance away in
a rooty tangle in the wet woods. The kinglet and finch were both surprises,
but the sparrows were not unexpected.
I had 46 species between 7 AM and 11 AM, and I did not want to leave. When I
did leave however, the birds were still busy feeding in this tiny "patch".
What a glorius morning!
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
Warblerick@aol.com
301-562-0303