Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Patterson Park, Calvert, 11/10

From:

"Bell, Tyler"

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Wed, 10 Nov 2004 13:03:11 -0500

Went out at lunch with my coworker Terry. We walked around the big pond on the west side of the park. Lots of SONG SPARROWS. Heard a strange chip and tracked it down. It was a HOUSE WREN. Seems a bit late for them. Then we heard something really weird and looked back at the tree row and saw what I initially thought was a falcon. It raced back and forth then landed in the top of a tree. It turned out to be a ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET! We walked over to it and I whistled at it. Eventually it started "talking" back but wouldn't come down. Obviously an escaped bird but a treat nonetheless. 
  
Flying overhead were both BLACK & TURKEY VULTURES and one each RED-TAILED & SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. Two MUTE SWANS flew toward the pond but diverted when they saw us. There were 4 RING-NECKED DUCKS in the pond and in the swamp on the drainage side of the pond was a single female WOOD DUCK. 
  
Went back to walking the perimeter of the pond and found an OSPREY flying over the river. Not much else on the backside of the pond so we headed back in with a CAROLINA WREN scolding us from behind. On the near side of the pond there are lots of weeds. There were more Song Sparrows and one SWAMP SPARROW, as well as a calling but unseen EASTERN TOWHEE. 
  
Stopped to look at some birds feeding on the edge of a gravel driveway and found a couple of AM. GOLDFINCHES and a CEDAR WAXWING. 
  
Earlier, on my way into the park, I found both CHIPPING & FIELD SPARROWS in a tree near the park entrance and JUNCOS & WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at the feeder at the lab. Not a Bonnie Ott sparrow day but not bad for about 45 minutes worth! 
  
Anway, if anyone knows of someone in Calvert who is missing a Rose-ringed Parakeet, have them get a hold of me and I'll direct them to where we last saw it. 
  
Tyler Bell 
 
California, MD