Folks

Having seen Enterprise on Wednesday, Saturday night Gwen and I went looking for Chuck-wills-widow on Cobb Neck.  At 8:55 PM we heard two individuals begin to call along Hatton Creek Road.  We rushed to several other locations where Chuck's have historically been heard so see how many we could tally.  We found/heard no additional Chuck's.  I will need to spend more time in this historical region to get a better estimate for the Atlas project.  The singing Chuck's birds were in block 197-3 and are now in safe date period (May 1).  It is time to do some serious atlasing folks, so get out there and atlas - please

While heading toward Hatton Creek Road, we observed a male American Kestrel on a wire along Rt. 257 near Wayside (Mike take note please).  This species just entered safe date period (5/15), and is a possible nester in block 196-1 or 2.  I need to pin point which specific location the next time down Rt. 257.  We were racing the clock to get south on Cobb Neck.

Working around the house on Sunday, Gwen pointed out a singing Blackpoll Warbler near the side yard for me.  Stopping for beer, and to listen to WAMU at 5 PM to Thistle and Shamrock (Celtic music), I waited to see what might fly by.  At 5:20 I was rewarded with a Common Nighthawk, my first of the year.  

With the Whips south of the house continue to sing at various times during the night, a close out caprimulgus weekend was achieved.

Later today I hope to update the spreadsheets.  I am at least at 200 species for the county year list, and 110 for the year yard list.  I will post to all my atlas fundraising big year sponsors a list of species thus far when I update the spreadsheet.  

If you would like to support this fundraising event (for the MD/DC Breeding Bird Atlas project), please contact me off line at my email address.  My goal is to get to 250 species in Charles County in 2004.  It's never to late to donate is my motto.  The yard list is a personal thing now that I have retired.

Going to look for late warblers.

George