Most sharpshins now are likely dispersal (not migrants).  I would hesitate to count any fully flighted juvenile towards the Atlas (but if you want them I can dig up reports of two for this year). I know of one nest that hatched not long ago in an adjacent state so these small hawks could still be nesting in Maryland this late.

Make your reports as continued early sightings might indicate a potential that nesting does not occur too far away.  This is a difficult to locate species and is certainly greatly under-represented in Maryland breeding bird records, more so than most raptors.

Last year I observed both male and female adults carrying prey at my home in Frederick County.  They always headed the same direction and there are several stands of pine in which they could have been nesting, but I never searched for a nest. If anyone recalls me commenting on this or can find mention of it in the archives, please let me know.  I can't find notes of the dates and need to report it.

This year they were absent although I spotted hunting adults several times throughout the summer and not far away.  Coopers hawks also seemed to be missing from the neighborhood this year, but perhaps its because I have spent more time looking at the baby and not out the window.

============================================================
From: Bob Ringler <>
Date: 2004/07/23 Fri PM 03:01:56 EDT
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Back to Atlasing

Dave,
   The July 31 date was based on previous data.  There are only two mid July and two late July reports in my database that might be classed as migrants and even these could be local breeders.  This is the sort of information that we hope the Atlas will provide us.  Since reports outside the two western counties will require verification forms to be included in the Atlas data we will have detailed notes on all the July reports, assuming they are reported for the Atlas.  If they go unreported the information is lost and we have less to judge the true status of the species.  So I hope these reports are submitted for the Atlas, even if they are in the "Observed" category.
   Interestingly, I know of only one July report of Sharp-shinned Hawk outside Garrett/Allegany during the first two years of the Atlas.  So far, no verifications forms have been received.  Consequently, it is much too soon to draw any conclusions.


>
> From: David Mozurkewich <>
> Date: 2004/07/23 Fri PM 02:16:44 EDT
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Back to Atlasing
>
> On Fri, 23 Jul 2004, Jim Stasz wrote:
>
> > Mid-July is when post-breeding Sharp-shinned Hawks appear across
> > Maryland.  I had one a couple days ago at North Beach, Calvert County.
>
> But the safe dates continue until 7/31.  Is this a mistake in the atlas
> bluebook or is it a recent change in seasonal dispersal patterns?
>
> Dave
> David Mozurkewich
> Seabrook, PG MD USA
> mozurk @ bellAtlantic.net

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD

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J. Steven Huy
Middletown, MD, USA

www.ProjectOwlnet.org