Hi Everyone,

I went for an afternoon run at Southwest Area Park (SWAP) in Baltimore
County today and was surrounded by signs of spring. The Spring Peepers were
nearly deafening, and several large clouds of gnats and mosquitoes had
emerged along the marshy loop trail. Coinciding with the insect feast was
the return of the park's swallows. At least 20 swallows were feeding over
the ponds, to include at least 5 TREE SWALLOWS, 3 BARN SWALLOWS, and 2
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. An Osprey worked one of the ponds and a Wood
Duck called plaintively as it flew by. The usual hundreds of Red-winged
Blackbirds were joined by large numbers of grackles and cowbirds. Singing
robins were never out of earshot. As dusk fell, the very much expected AM.
WOODCOCK performance began, with at least 5 different birds peeanting
extensively and displaying. 

See you out there,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland

www.billhubick.com