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Subject:

Northern Shrike in Anne Arundel Co.

From:

Stan Arnold

Reply-To:

Stan Arnold

Date:

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 08:08:25 -0500

Hi Folks,

What a day to run off without my cell phone.  I was doing one of my routine
checks of the numerous ponds along the Patapsco River when a brightly
colored mockingbird flew up and perched in a tree in front of me.  It was
attractive enough to warrant looking at through the bins, and to my
disbelief it was a shrike.  I studied the bird in the scope for about ten
minutes to confirm that it was indeed a Northern and not a Loggerhead.  The
relatively thin mask, pale-ish back, and pronounced hook on the bill
indicated the former, and a later look at Sibley showed a perfect
resemblance to the Northern Shrike illustration.

This bird was found between two of the large ponds found along Belle Grove
Ave. (Pond 12 and Pond 13), on state park property.  To get there from the
west on the I-695 beltway, take exit 5, B&A Blvd (Hwy 648), and turn north
towards Baltimore.  Or, heading north on I-97, as it ends get in the far
left lane, then after passing the 695 exits, get to the far right and follow
the signs to Hwy 648.  Once on 648, go north about a mile, down a long hill,
and turn right onto Belle Grove Ave. (The Rose Restaurant is on the corner).
Go less than a mile, and look for the power lines that cross the road.  Just
PRIOR to (west of) the power lines is a somewhat obscure little state park
gate.  A single car can park in front of the gate; any others should be able
to park on the roadside, as there is a fairly good shoulder.  Walk around
the gated area and follow the path about 150 feet until getting abeam the
pond on the right.  The bird was in the trees about 50 feet ahead of this
point.  These trees are on the isthmus between ponds 12 and 13.

By the way, these are fairly urban ponds, and despite the rainy weather are
apt to get quite a few folks out fishing there today, being a Sunday.

I will be out of touch this morning, but if anyone needs to contact me this
afternoon for help or amplified directions, you can call my cell at
410-428-7567.

I'm sure Bill Hubick can't be too happy.  He's off hiking in Alegany Co.,
and this bird is within a mile of his house!  AND, he's missed the Talbot
Co. shrike three or four times.

This evening I will be posting about Bill and my southern MD birding
yesterday with George Jett and Gwen Brewer.

Good luck to anyone who tries for the shrike.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie