Hello all,

My friend Casey Black and I spent Saturday (5/15) atlasing my block in
Washington and Frederick Counties, and had an extremely interesting
highlight. After spotting a flyby woodpecker while driving, a quick patch
of white had me executing a U-turn. When we parked (safely, not on I-70
this time :), we were delighted to confirm my excited suspicion that it was
a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER -- a beautiful adult. As we watched the bird, it
repeatedly flew from a highly used dead snag to lush trees across the road
and returned. Upon closer inspection, we found the bird to be catching
CICADAS in the trees, and caching them in the dead snag much like Acorn
Woodpeckers cache their acorns out west. We watched this routine at least
eight times, and had very clear views of the cicadas and what it was doing
with them. The snag certainly contained no nesting cavity (it was only
about 4" in diameter and riddled with holes -- link to photos below), but a
nest may be located nearby. The bird made several quick trips further back
into the woods, but we did not see it approach or enter any nesting cavity.
I have never witnessed this behavior before, and know that the impact of
Periodical Cicadas is of great interest to many of you, so please send me
any thoughts, comments, or further questions!

Here's a link to a number of photos:

http://www.billhubick.com/bird_images.html

We had 18 new or upgraded Atlas tics for the block, and the following other
highlights:

Barred Owl - 2 (including fantastic looks at one bird, and a T code on
another first heard on my last trip)
Acadian Flycatchers ~ 20 (my first of the year, and then another, and another)
Great Crested Flycatchers - 2 nest-building (NB)
Veery - 1
American Redstart - 2
WORM-EATING WARBLER - 1 NB
Louisiana Waterthrush - 2-3
Kentucky Warbler - 1

Full list of new or upgraded Atlas tics for those inclined to read on:
Turkey Vulture (X), Mallard (X), Red-tailed Hawk (T), Barred Owl (T),
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (X), Red-headed Woodpecker (X), Eastern Phoebe
(X), Great Crested Flycatcher (NB), Tree Swallow (ON), Barn Swallow (NB),
American Robin (ON), European Starling (NB), Worm-eating Warbler (NB),
Louisiana Waterthrush (X), Chipping Sparrow (X), Field Sparrow (T), Song
Sparrow (X), House Finch (X).

We were just starting to try for nightjars when the storm forcefully
suggested we call it a (very successful) day.

Enjoy the rest of your weekends!

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland
bill_hubick at yahoo.com
www.billhubick.com