Folks

Trying to catch up again.  This retirement is too hectic.  Mostly just new arrivals for my big year Atlas fundraising project, and other highlights after April 16. 

April 17:

Two Osprey soaring over the house.
Northern Parula at house (#143 for the big Charles County year &  #73 for the yard year).
Common Yellowthroat @ Allen's Fresh (#144)
Prairie Warbler @ St. Ignatius on Chapel Point Rd. doing a mini hawk watch.
Chimney Swift - #74 for the year yard list.
2 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, 2 Bald Eagle, 3 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Black and 6 Turkey Vultures in a short hour at the St. Ignatius parking lot.  This could prove to be a useful hawk watch spot.  The parking lot over looks the Potomac for a long distance, has open fields to the north at Chapel Point State Park and step slops for the birds to climb over.  We will see.

April 18:

Blue-headed Vireo @ house - (#146 year / #75 yard).
Yellow-throated (#147 year) and Red-eyed Vireos (#148) @ Rt. 224 near Purse's State Park, Nanjemoy.

April 19:

Non birding day - slacker!

April 20:

Red-eyed Vireo @ house (#76 yard)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird @ Myrtle Grove WMA, male - (#149 year County)
Hooded Warbler @ Myrtle Grove - (#150)
White-eyed Vireo @ Myrtle Grove WMA - (#151)

Pectoral Sandpiper (3) @ Port Tapioca Wetland Restoration Project - (#152).  

This spot is worth checking out regularly.  It is located closer to La Plata but my be some mitigation effort.  It is located on the corner of Rt. 225 (Hawthorne Rd). and Mitchell Rd.  It is recently been prepared for whatever, has standing water, and a large field area near by.  With the three PESAs were six Lesser Yellowlegs and two Greater Yellowlegs.  I took Gwen down after she got home from work and the three PESAs were still there.  A couple Killdeer were calling and flying also.  

Good spring migration and thanks to the supporters.  I am still taking pledges for this Atlas fundraising effort.  My motto is it is never too late to donate.  My goal is to identify between 240 and 250 species in Charles County in 2004.  The county record is 212.  I hope to break that by the end of May 2004.

George










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