Hi Folks,

I did some atlasing early this a.m. at Southwest Area Park in SW Baltimore Co., and was far from disappointed.  Some of the findings:

VIRGINIA RAIL--has been in same spot for two months
AM. WOODCOCK--3:  one peenting; one flushed; and one flying across my path with feet dangling, carrying something small.  Feeding young?
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO--one vocalizing
WILLOW FLYCATCHER--one singing
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER--one singing
WARBLING VIREO--4 singing
MARSH WREN--one singing on far side of pond south of main road
YELLOW WARBLER--at least 4 singing
BLACKPOLL WARBLER--one singing
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT--two singing territorially
SWAMP SPARROW--one singing
ORCHARD ORIOLE--3 singing; two holding territories

Later, at the Maritime Institute were 4 singing SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and one singing VEERY.

Last evening Charlie Kucera and I hiked at UMBC and at the Mears Farm (Patapsco Valley St. Park).  At the former we found a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and a SUMMER TANAGER "picky-tucky-tucking."  At the latter were singing CHATs, PRAIRIE WARBLERs, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and out in the fields we counted 7 BOBOLINKs, all females.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie