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Subject:

Cabin John Park, Potomac MD, 4/9/05

From:

Kate Castell

Reply-To:

Kate Castell

Date:

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 11:42:18 -0400

Hello everyone,

I am a volunteer (and novice) birdwatcher for Locust Grove Nature Center in 
Cabin John Park (in Potomac, MD, near Montgomery Mall). I go every Saturday 
to observe and count birds (I started at the end of February). I think the 
data eventually goes to a state naturalist. I also monitor a few bluebird 
boxes there – there are already nests in two of "my" three.
I had a great day there this past Saturday, and I thought I would share my 
list with you all.
 *Area around the Nature Center (only about a mile circuit on the trails)*
*The Usuals:* cardinal, chickadee, mourning dove, carolina wren, goldfinch, 
house finch, house sparrow, song sparrow, downy woodpecker, hairy 
woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, tufted titmouse, robin
 *More notable:* bluebirds (at least two pairs, probably three), a pair of 
kingfishers, flickers (first time I saw them this year), brown-headed 
cowbird (first time I saw that this year), blue-gray gnatcatcher (first time 
ever!)

I really wanted to see a blue-gray gnatcatcher since everyone on here was 
talking about them, and lo and behold it showed up! It took me a while to 
ID, but while I was taking notes on it I wrote "like a mockingbird, but 
tiny," which is exactly how it is described in Petersen. That was exciting!
I used to see a red-shouldered hawk in the same place every week, but I 
haven't seen it the past few times I was there. There were 2 fox sparrows 
(March 12) and a flock of 9 or 10 cedar waxwings (March 19). I also 
occasionally see pileated woodpeckers and saw white-throated sparrows a few 
weeks in a row.
 *Power Line Cut (near Ice Rink and ballfields) and Marsh *
Red-Shouldered Hawk, Red-Tailed Hawk (soaring), Pileated Woodpecker, 
Red-Wing Blackbird (males and females), Canada Goose, Mallard, Chipping 
Sparrow (first time ever)
 I would like to send out my list every week – normally I won't make it this 
long, and if anyone has suggestions/comments about it, let me know.
 Happy Birding!
 - Kate Castell