Hi Folks,

I spent much of the long weekend in northeastern Washington Co. doing atlas
work in two of the Smithsburg blocks.  Highlights of the trip were:  RN
PHEASANT, WILD TURKEY, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, WARBLING
VIREO, CERULEAN (and other) WARBLERs, SAVANNAH SPARROW, and BLUE GROSBEAK.
Two N. BOBWHITEs that were singing two weeks ago were not found this
weekend.

I hiked most of the Appalacian Trail (A.T.) that goes through one of the
blocks, accessing it from the south off of Ritchie Rd. by hiking past
"Devil's Racecourse" and from the north by driving up to High Rock.  Other
than that most of the coverage was by driving or walking the roads, since
there is virtually no public land other than parts of South Mountain and the
A.T.  Some of the sightings:

RING-NECKED PHEASANT--male seen on Breezy Acres Rd. (connecting Hwys 491 &
60) on 5/30 and another male heard on Battletown Rd., 5/31
WILD TURKEY--hen along Edgemont Rd. just north of Mong Rd., late morning
5/30
N. BOBWHITE--heard 5/15 on Battletown Rd. and on Grove Rd.
BARRED OWL--heard 5/29 near Devil's Racecourse (off of Ritchie Rd.) while
climbing up to A.T.  I called for about ten minutes before it responded.
Also, a pair responded to my calls on Battletown Rd. on 5/30.  This pair
fledged a youngster this month on the property of Mr. Glen Cook.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER--pair near corner of Unger Rd. and Beck Rd. and single
bird seen on Durberry Rd. across from new houses, all on 5/31
WILLOW FLYCATCHER--one singing along Watery Lane on 5/29 & 5/31; another on
Durberry Rd. where a small lane crosses a creek, 5/31.
WARBLING VIREO--fairly widespread; very vocal where Battletown Rd. crosses
Antietam Cr. 5/29 through 5/31, and also where Leitersburg-Smithsburg Rd.
crosses the creek at the Bowman Mill Bridge on 5/30; also bridge where
Poplar Grove Rd. crosses a creek on 5/31.
YELLOW WARBLER--widespread
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER--one singing along Ritchie Rd., 5/29
CERULEAN WARBLER--several singing along trail from Ritchie Rd. passing
Devil's Racecourse to the A.T., 5/29
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER--several singing along the A.T., 5/29 and 5/30
AM. REDSTART--several along the A.T., 5/29 & 5/30
WORM-EATING WARBLER--very vocal along the A.T. and one heard along High Rock
Rd., 5/30
OVENBIRD--very vocal along the A.T., 5/29 and 5/30
HOODED WARBLER--one heard along Ritchie Rd., 5/30
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT--one singing along Edgemont Rd., 5/29
SAVANNAH SPARROW--one singing near Durberry Rd., where a country lane
crosses a creek, 5/31
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW--widespread; very vocal along Unger Rd., 5/29 through
5/31
BLUE GROSBEAK--not a common bird in these parts; heard singing along
Durberry Rd., near one of Willow Flycatchers, where a country lane crosses a
small creek.

Also, E. Meadowlarks were heard or seen in many locations, as were both
orioles.  I thought White-breasted Nuthatch at the end of Grove Rd. was a
good find, though I also heard them along the A.T., as expected.  Several
species were confirmed during the trip, including Canada Goose (FL),
Mourning Dove (FL & FY), Barred Owl (FL), Red-bellied Woodpecker (ON), Barn
Swallow (ON), House Wren (ON), Am. Robin (ON, FL, FY), N. Mockingbird (FY),
Starling (FY), Chipping Sparrow (FY), and House Sparrow (NB).

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie