Hi Folks,

Charlie Kucera and I spent the better part of the weekend out in Garrett
county, doing some atlasing in the eastern part of the county south of I-68.
The area in focus was along the Avilton-Lonaconing (A-L) Rd., from the old
Frostburg Rd. south past Swamp Rd. to the Allegany Co. line, and also the
southern mile of Pea Ridge Rd., then east along Lancaster Rd. to where it
meets the A-L Rd.  There were two areas of particular interest:  the
entrance to Little Brown Lake (LBL), across from the Bedrock quarry on A-L
Rd., and the state forest trail that begins behind the George's Creek
Brethren Church ("Church Trail"), on A-L Rd. just south of  Swamp Rd.  The
former is a desolate looking area on the top of Four-mile Ridge that looks
rather like a moon scape, but for some reason attracts a lot of birds.  The
other area is excellent, later in the year, for a large variety of warblers,
and where Golden-winged was confirmed last summer.  These two areas are
mentioned as locations in the following list of birds seen during the
weekend.  The sightings:

CANADA GOOSE--one on island of Little Brown Lake, 4/17, with neck flattened
on ground.  This really looked like a hen on a nest, literally maintaining a
low profile.
COMMON MERGANSER--female, Little Brown Lake, 4/17
OSPREY--pair at Little Brown Lake, 4/17
BROAD-WINGED HAWK--the most commonly seen raptor; many circling overhead in
various locations
WILD TURKEY--two toms and four hens in a group near the LBL entrance on
4/17.  Charlie and I watched one of the males in full display, fending off
his male rival.  Great show.  Other turkeys were heard along the Church
Trail early on 4/18.
RUFFED GROUSE--one seen on the A-L Rd. about 1/4 mile north of Swamp Rd. at
dusk on 4/17 (near where I had a hen and chicks last June); another flushed
from the Church Trail early on 4/18.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER--one at Little Brown Lake, 4/17
AMERICAN WOODCOCK--a few peenting along A-L Rd., about 1/2 mile south of
Swamp Rd., in a depression near some houses, evening of 4/16; also one
peenting at LBL entrance, evening of 4/17
BARRED OWL--pair calling at north end of Little Brown Lake, 4/17; one
calling near the LBL entrance, 4/18; and one calling along Church Trail,
4/18
COMMON RAVEN--seen on many occasions overhead near the LBL entrance
FIELD SPARROW--provided the most common song along the Church Trail, 4/18
SAVANNAH SPARROW--singing along Pea Ridge Rd., 4/17
VESPER SPARROW--a few singing along Lancaster Rd., 4/17
FOX SPARROW--one in woods, north end of Little Brown Lake, 4/17
DARK-EYED JUNCO--one singing at quarry above Little Brown Lake, 4/18.  The
elevation here is about 3000 feet, and I suspect they nest in the area.
PURPLE FINCH--a pair seen, and several others singing in the pines along the
Church Trail.  If anyone gets to this area in the next few weeks, I'd like
to know if they are still singing, since they probably nest here.

Recent arrivals seen while hiking in the area include BLUE-HEADED VIREO,
TREE SWALLOW, BARN SWALLOW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCTCHER, and BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLER.  The Yellow-rumped Warblers are looking resplendent in their
breeding plumage.  A White-throated Sparrow was (finally) a county close-out
for me.

On my way home from Garrett, I stopped at my blocks in Washington Co., north
of Smithsburg (NE of Hagerstown) and found a RUSTY BLACKBIRD where Poplar
Grove Rd. crosses the Little Antietam Creek (a terrific watering hole for
birds in an otherwise pretty unexciting, agricultural countryside), and a
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW on Newcomer Rd.  I did not see the Blue-winged Teal
reported by Dave Perry along Watery Lane, but did see one of the not-so-wild
turkeys there, along with the dozen or so Muscovy Ducks.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie


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