Hi Folks,
An evening walk at Southwest Area Park (SWAP) in Baltimore Co. produced an
atlas sighting that I was never expecting. As I walked the main road
toward the boat ramp, after passing the open water on left and right half
way there, I stopped and focused on a small bird in the phragmites to the
right; it was a song sparrow. As I was scanning to get on this bird, I
could see in the background a couple of perched birds. I had to overcome
some disbelief before realizing I had a PAIR of Least Bitterns perched IN
THE OPEN, clinging high on the phragmites, about three feet apart. I could
see them perfectly, noting the dark cap and back of the male, with large
white scapular patch, cinnamon face, nape and flanks, and long orange bill
and legs, with the female bearing similar, but paler markings. This is the
first time, outside of the state of Florida, that I've been able to study
this bird extensively. I watched for about ten minutes before moving on;
the time was about 7:45 p.m.
While viewing the bitterns, a WILLOW FLYCATCHER perched in front of them for
a great look. This bird is common here at SWAP. The loop trail to the
south produced a singing YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and a well-viewed singing
first-year male ORCHARD ORIOLE. Many Yellow Warblers and Common
Yellowthroats were singing.
Last Wednesday, 5/26, here at SWAP I was able to pick up MARSH WREN for the
atlas, as one sang in the vegetation across the water on the south of the
main road.
Wednesday, 5/26, was also a particularly good day for atlasing in Anne
Arundel Co. Early in the morning at BWI Airport a hen WILD TURKEY was
viewed next to one of the active runways, and OVENBIRD was picked up nearby
for the Relay CE block. Later that day, at the Glen Burnie Recycling Center
on Dover Rd., I watched five CATTLE EGRETS fly overhead, and listened to a
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in one of the open fields there, both of these new atlas
birds for the Curtis Bay CW block.
Kites, Galinule, Dickcissel, and great atlas birds. What a Spring!
Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie
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