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Re: AA Co. Northern Shrike (yes), Gluttonous Gull, Other Weekend Birding

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 20:06:43 -0500

Hi Everyone,

After returning home from a great morning of hiking in Allegany County, I
drove the full 3 1/2 minutes to where Stan saw a Northern Shrike this
morning. It was too good to be true, though, and I returned home
unsuccessful after an hour of searching. Minutes after I returned home,
though, Stan called and said he was looking at the bird at the same spot! We
probably passed each other on the road. I got there in time to get excellent
looks at the shrike, as well as a number of decent documentation photos
(~4:15). An American Woodcock flushed as we walked out, and Ospreys perched
atop power stanchions on which they will probably soon nest. The shrike flew
north after a few minutes of observation. 

I've posted photos at www.billhubick.com/birds.html. Click the "Northern
Shrike" link in the left column to view them. All photos on the left marked
with a "New" icon are from this weekend. These includes the hilarious series
of the Herring Gull working on a nearly 2' American Eel. Prepare for a
laugh!

I hope everyone will follow Stan's lead and continue finding rarities within
minutes of my house! :) Thanks, Stan! 

Other birds of note from the weekend:

* Cackling Goose - 1 at Pickering Creek (3/18)
* Green-winged Teal - Very large numbers moving through on the Eastern Shore
(3/18)
* Blue-winged Teal - 1 drake at Pickering Creek (3/18)
* Wild Turkeys - 92! To include a huge displaying tom on back roads between
Blackwater NWR and Elliott Island Road (3/18)
* Ospreys - As Stan said, already back on almost any sizable water :)
* Virginia Rails - Jim Brighton and I heard several calls along Elliott
Island Road (3/18)
* Greater Yellowlegs - 5 in southern Dorchester County (3/18)
* Lesser Yellowlegs - 1-2 seen and heard on Elliott Island Road with Jim
Brighton (3/18)
* Wilson's Snipe - Jim pointed out their nocturnal calls, which I'd never
heard before, on Elliott Island Road (3/18). Very cool. 
* Short-eared Owl - 2-3 on Elliott Island Road with Jim Brighton (3/18)
* Northern Saw-whet Owl - Jim and I heard one spontaneously call in southern
Dorchester County (3/18)
* Laughing Gulls - 5 at Hurlock WWTP (3/18)
* Eastern Phoebes - 1 in Charles County (3/19), 2 in Green Ridge SF
(Allegany Co., 3/20)
* Brown Creepers - No less than 10 in Green Ridge SF (3/20). They were
incessantly singing their full song, which I'd never heard before :)
* Winter Wrens - 3-4 in Green Ridge SF, also singing  (3/20)
* Golden-crowned Kinglets - rarely out of earshot in Green Ridge SF (3/20)
* Pine Warbler - Charles County (3/19), Green Ridge SF (3/20)
* Rusty Blackbird - 1 at Pickering Creek (3/18)

This weekend cinched it: spring is here and migration is underway! I
repeatedly heard Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers, and Chorus Frogs calling.
Red-bellied Turtles sunbathed on favorite logs. The occasional Cabbage White
or sulphur fluttered by... I also caught myself exhibiting a spring behavior
- walking with my eyes down, letting my ears sort out the chorus! I should
at least wait until the thick foliage returns to get lazy!

I hope you all enjoyed the lovely weekend. It was good to see many over the
last few days :) 

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland
bill_hubick ~ at ~ yahoo.com
www.billhubick.com