Highlights of the Baltimore Bird Club trip to Soldier's Delight included a SUMMER TANAGER, two male Blue Grosbeak, a singing KENTUCKY WARBLER and fantastic looks at HOODED, PRAIRIE, PINE and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, a pair of YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and Scarlet Tanager.

The Summer Tanager, a first spring male singing an abbreviated [four syllable] song, moved around an open area on the White Trail and did seem linger in one area as would a bird on territory.  It perched in the open several times - presenting itself for observation.  Not to be upstaged, a male Scarlet Tanager displaying brilliant plumage sang from edge an Oak.  It must have been the combination of the overcast sky and the wet foliage that made this “Firebird” illuminate as if it were “plugged-in.”

With the exception of the KENTUCKY WARBLER and OVENBIRD nearly everyone had very good looks at the rest of the warblers.  On territory, even the YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS was very cooperative: the male and female perching in view for an extended periods.  The Blue Grosbeak showed up when we were watching a family of Eastern Blues and several Indigo Buntings.  I my mind the White Trail now features a Blue Zone at the junction of the powerline cut.

The trip ended with fifty-two species, six very happy birders and one felid trip leader grateful for the mild weather, the beautiful birds and the fine company.

Birders attending:  Roger Marcus, Paul Noell, Evelyn Taylor, David Taylor, Anthony Spand and George Marcos.

Great Blue Heron (2)
Turkey Vulture (2)
Black Vulture (1)
Red-tailed Hawk (1 adult, 1immature)
Mourning Dove (9 adult, 4 immature)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (3)
Black-billed Cuckoo (1)
Chimney Swift (2)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1)
Hairy Woodpecker (1)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
Eastern Kingbird (2)
Great-crested Flycatcher (6)
Acadian Flycatcher (4)
Eastern Peewee (6)
White-eyed Vireo (3)
Red-eyed Vireo (11)
Barn Swallow (2)
Blue Jay (1)
American Crow (2)
Carolina Chickadee (2)
Tufted Titmouse (1)
House Wren (1)
Carolina Wren (1)
Northern Mockingbird (3)
Gray Catbird (7)
Brown Thrasher (4)
American Robin (2)
Wood Thrush (4)
Eastern Bluebird (3 male, 2 female, 4 immature)
Blue-gray Knatcatcher (7)
Cedar Waxwing (8)
White-eyed Vireo ()
Red-eyed Vireo (11)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER (1male, 3 singing)
PINE WARBLER (2 male)
PRAIRIE WARBLER (4 male, 5 singing)
OVENBIRD (2 singing)
KENTUCKY WARBLER (1 singing)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (1 male, 1 female, 2 singing)
HOODED WARBLER(1 male, 4 singing)
Brown-headed Cowbird (3 male, 2 female)
Scarlet Tanager (4 male)
SUMMER TANAGER (1 first spring male)
Northern Cardinal (3 male, 2 female)
Blue Grosbeak (2 male, 1 female)
Indigo Bunting (8male, 1 female)
American Goldfinch (4 male, 3 female)
Eastern Towhee (4 male, 2 female)
Chipping Sparrow (4 adult, 2 fledglings)
Field Sparrow (5)