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Subject:

Western Maryland May 30 - June 4

From:

Jack and Julie Saba

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 6 Jun 2004 16:13:21 -0400

Hi all,

Thanks to Stan Arnold and John Churchill for replying to my RFI for Western
Md.

I spent five days last week birding in Washington, Allegheny, and Garrett
Counties, my first outing to that area; definitely worth a return visit
(especially since I missed 3 of my 4 main targets). Weather was not great,
with some rain almost every day, but not a complete washout.

The causeway across Finzel Swamp IS a washout, however, being under at least
12 inches of water when I was there, likely more by now with the rain. It is
probably not safe to drive past the entrance gate.

Highlights:

A female BALTIMORE ORIOLE was building a nest along the towpath at Big Pool,
Washington Co. She was just beginning the construction, and it looked like
she was attaching the long fibers that make up the length of the basket. She
was jumping around pretty acrobatically rather than weaving pieces of grass,
which is what I've seen birds doing previously.

In Green Ridge State Forest, AMERICAN REDSTART carrying an inchworm and
a BLUE-HEADED VIREO singing pretty continuously (also found at Cranesville
Swamp).

A WOODCOCK flushed as I walked through an area off of Old Legislative Rd.  in
W. Allegheny Co. In the same area, a FIELD SPARROW carrying an inchworm
didn't seem to like my presence, flying from perch to perch at the edge of a
field before flying off into the nearby woods.

BARRED OWLs duetting in E. Garrett County.

Many BOBOLINK and several MEADOWLARK along Pea Ridge Road. The BOBO were very
cooperative, perching on overhead wires and foraging on the road.

CEDAR WAXWING on nest at Finzel swamp (at the entrance).

ALDER FLYCATCHER proved easy to find at Mt. Nebo, though I had to wait a while
for it to pop up into view. An ALFL was also singing from exposed perches at
Cranesville Swamp.

OVENBIRD with a mouthful of food, ticking away, flying from perch to perch, at
Mt Nebo. Finally flew out of sight, still calling.

A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Mt Nebo.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO heard going "kuk-kuk-kuk kuk-kuk-kuk" repeatedly for a
minute or more along Snaggy Mountain Road in W. Garrett Co., near the only
wooden bridge on the road.

At Cranesville Swamp, as I walked the stretch of the Blue Trail that goes
through the pine forest, a hawk started calling rapidly, continuously, and
loudly. With only a brief look at the bird, I am fairly sure it was a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK based on size, square tail, and call, which was not nasal.

Two SPOTTED SANDPIPERs, together at the spillway on the lake in Herrington
Manor State Park.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERs in a number of places.

Jack Saba
Berwyn Heights, Prince George's County
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