Hi Folks,

Bill Hubick and I paddled the Patapsco River late this afternoon, putting in at Southwest Area Park and paddling upstream to the Hammonds Ferry Rd. bridge (near I-695), then floating back to SWAP.  The OSPREYs were thick, with over a dozen seen, and five of them together in one location, each with its own fish.  An adult BALD EAGLE was seen soaring high overhead, and two adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were viewed near the B&A Blvd bridge.  There were a few WOOD DUCKs on the river, and my first BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER of the year was vocalizing on the Anne Arundel Co. side of the river.

Once back at SWAP, we did some birding there, where we saw a pair of AM. KESTRELs sitting in a tree together and had an adult LITTLE BLUE HERON fly over.  A CASPIAN TERN  was seen flying along the river, and while driving one of the gravel roads, Bill heard a RING-NECKED PHEASANT crowing.  By the way, Brian Sykes has had Caspian Terns at the Halethorpe Pond since Monday, 4 April and also reported seeing Warbling Vireos there this week.

An enjoyable outing on a beautiful day.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie