Today while patrolling various park within Anne Arundel County I saw the following birds of note:
Beverly Triton Beach
16 Red-breasted Merganser - Males in group were all displaying/courting the females...this
was quite the spectacle and I have never seen this before.
2 American Crows gathering nesting materials
South River Farm Park
1 pair of Gadwalls, my first AACo ones
1 Red-tailed Hawk...sitting in an old osprey nest...though I do not think this bird was going
to use it for its own, as it was still in immature plumage.
B&A Trail Park Headquarters
2 Coopers Hawks - 1 adult, 1 juvenile within 6 feet of each other...the juvenile was...and
this is the best way to describe it...chirping
4 Red-shouldered Hawks aerial displaying.
Side note: the pond feeder at the office has become a local favorite amongst the raptors
as the party spot. We have 4 species of hawks that like to hunt it and most decide to
use it as a perch too. Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered, Sharp-shinned, Coopers.
Also, 4 Ospreys along Route 50 near Rowe Blvd. and 1 at the Earleigh Heights Fire Hall...al using communication towers as nesting platforms.
One last comment....IMBD 2005 on Saturday May 14th, theme is Bird Collisions this year. Check out your local chapters/parks/reserves/sanctuaries for events.
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Adam Smith
Baltimore MD/Severna Park MD |