This is a brief write-up of the Big Day attempted by Jim Stasz, Dave Webb, Mike Burchett, and I last Saturday May 15.  Unfortunately, Mike could not be an official member of the team due to a lacrosse game in the middle of the day, but stuck it out for most of the day.  The short version is that we identified 138 species with the highlights being Black and King Rail. 


At midnight, Jim Stasz, Dave Webb, Mike Burchett, and I shoved off into the Gunpowder in Dave's canoe. Our first bird was a flyover Least Sandpiper, "kreep!".  We began flushing cormorants, Great Blue Herons, geese, and ducks on the way out to the marsh.   Our first "marsh" birds were the numerous singing Marsh Wrens, but the rails were silent that night.  The nocturnal flight of thrushes was consistent, with lots of Swainson's Thrushes, several Gray-cheeks, and a few Veeries.  The biggest bonus bird of the night was a flyover Dunlin that gave its flight call.   After a lot more paddling, we were rewarded with a calling Least Bittern and decided it was time to head back inland.   

Next up was APG for Whip-poor-will, which was easily heard thanks to Dave's scouting efforts during the week.  For predawn and dawn, we chose Perryman to hopefully find our needed field species.  Grasshopper Sparrows and Woodcock began calling at 4:30 as scheduled.   A bonus Barred Owl sounded off from inside the proving ground.  As light began to peak over the horizon, dawn chorus set in and we began adding species by the dozen.  We heard the needed Field Sparrows, Blue Grosbeaks, and Chats, but the hoped for Turkey and Bobwhite failed to call.   

It was onto Susquehanna SP via Webster for Meadowlark and Red-shouldered Hawk.  The birds of Susquehanna were much easier than expected with Cerulean, Prothonotary, and Kentucky all being heard from the car.  Migrants were nearly nonexistent, with singles of Chestnut-sided Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak and lots of Blackpolls.   A Worm-eating Warbler was unexpected on the ridge near the mouth of Deer Creek and Yellow-throated was surprisingly difficult with only a single bird near the entrance to the picnic area.  A travel down to the campground entrance did not produce Turkey or woodpeckers, but a Screech-owl was coerced into calling.   Conowingo Dam had ZERO gulls!!!  We did add Black Vulture and a flyover Common Loon.  Mike had to take off at this point to play lacrosse for CMW and would rejoin us later in the day.  

We headed into the Broad Creek area and found Pileated and Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, and singing Hooded and Canada Warblers.  The Cliff Swallows returned to the Rt. 623 bridge over the creek and made for an easy tick.  This is where is the birding got cold and the weather hot.   We meandered over to Falling Branch where Prairie and Blue-winged Warblers were singing from the new parking lot.  We had roadside stops that yielded Willow Flycatcher and singing Bay-breasted Warbler, which was our last migrant passerine of the day.   Harford Glen was slow, but we did add Great Egret, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, and Brown Thrasher.  A 2-hour watch of the Tydings flats was moderately productive, but couldn't bring us up from our midday low.  Kingfisher, Caspian Tern, and the usual gulls were all new for the day.   A single Bonaparte's Gull and flyby Black-bellied Plover were the best finds during the sit.  Mike rejoined us before we left.  

Swan Harbor was next after a brief stop for Pine Warbler in Oakington.  Swan Harbor was better than expected and provided a much needed afternoon morale boost.  With a simple walk around the impoundment we found Savannah Sparrow, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semiplamated Plover, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Blue-winged Teal, and King Rail.   The King Rail was amazing, with point blank views right along the dike and on an open mudflat.  Next up was Mute Swan and Green Heron along Rt. 40, and Least Tern and Killdeer at Lakeside Ponds.  We tried Bosley Conservancy for migrants, but no luck.   Finally, we ended the day by canoeing the Gunpowder again.  We were able to pick up Black-crowned Night-Heron, Common Nighthawk, and Black Duck.  We tried for Virginia Rail with no success, but we did have a spontaneously calling Black Rail!!!   The bird gave its growl sequence several times which is something I've only heard 3 times before.  The growl call is used while the bird is agitated, so I presume that there was a predator in the area since we were not playing any tapes.  Great Horned Owl was our last bird of the night because a torrential downpour ended our plans of canoeing the Bush River.   

We ended the day with 138 species which we thought to be pretty respectable for the first year.  Our biggest miss was American Kestrel, which we thought we'd see along the route, next year we'll know to stake one out.  With more scouting, better migration, and our knowledge from this year, we should be able to eventually break 150.   It was a great time and we all hope to improve next year.


Matt Hafner
Bel Air, MD