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Subject:

C&O Canal, a.m.

From:

Kevin Caldwell

Reply-To:

Kevin Caldwell

Date:

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 23:35:35 -0400

A fine Thurs, 9-11am at the Keep Tryst trailhead (Lock 31 I think) and
heading west toward Sandy Hook.

Notables are possible Y.Throat Warbler, No. WATERTHRUSH, BLUE GRAY
GNATCATCHER, and LA Waterthrush.  YT SPARROWS still around too as well as
all the commoners you'd expect on a pre-migratory day in bottomland by the
water.  GB HERONS (3), Bk.VULTURES (5), WOOD DUCK (2) and COMM. MERG (1)
graced the water. RED-TAIL - 1 over the uplands.  WT SPARROWS looking very
good but still hanging around.

This is the first No.WATERTHRUSH (2) appearance there this year, tho they
could've arrived on 4/12 or 13.  I initally thought LA W'thrush, but didn't
hear extra notes and churtles, and sure enought it was hanging out over the
old canal and low wet areas which don't flow.  LA W'THRUSH's were nearby
though along the creeks feeding the Potomac.  Challenging to see both together.

The possible Y.THROAT WARBLER (1) (by song) is only that - can't say for
sure yet as I did not observe it but followed it by song as far as I could
til I hit feeder streams to the Potomac I couldn't cross.  Seemed to check
with my Peterson's CD which I carry for such occasions.  I know YT's pretty
well but can confuse them with Y.Rumped, which were commonly feeding on bugs
in box elders and sycamores but not singing at all.  No Pine or Palm
warblers to my surprise...was hoping to see some.

BLUE GRAY GNATCATCHERs (3) were singing it up, also in box elders and
totally unphased by the huge trains going by or waiting on track work. They
came very close with some 'tseesping' and wow...are they fun - watched them
for about 1 hour.

Though COWBIRDS don't really move me, I enjoyed watching a male ruffle his
feathers a while for his potential female and making all kinds of sound.
And in spite of the new warbler, the most fun was had ciphering all the
TITMOUSE variations...they never fail to amaze and its only when we close up
and call them common that they truly are mundane...its really us that get
common, not them.  My favorite of hte day...

New blooms include wild hyacinth.  Still going are dutchmans, spr.beauty
(both kinds), VA bluebells, and veronica.  On the way are mayapple, lg
bellwort and lg solomons.  Oh - and painted turtles debut'd either today or
4/12 to 4/13.

Kevin Caldwell
Knoxville, MD
Wash. Co.