Hi Everyone,

On my way home from work today, I couldn't resist a stop at Fort McHenry to
welcome our most patriotic western vagrant. The Western Kingbird was easily
located at its favorite tree, singing up a storm and flying the occasional
sortie around the area. But beware! Its song was also imitated by the local
mockingbird, an obvious flycatcher groupie who also performed a respectable
Eastern Kingbird and Great Crested Flycatcher.

I posted a photo to my web site at <http://www.billhubick.com/birds.html>
(scroll down on the left - way down - to Western Kingbird)

Afterwards, I met up with Anna Urciolo for an afternoon of birding in Stan
Arnold's and my Curtis Bay (Anne Arundel Co.) atlas blocks. It was a great
day for the expected shorebirds and nice numbers of migrant songbirds
(though warblers were scarce). As is often the case here, the evening was
topped off by the songs of nightjars. Highlights included the following:

Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Solitary Sandpipers - 10+
Spotted Sandpipers - 3-4
Least Sandpipers - 20+ (by far the most I've ever had here)
Eskimo Curlew - 0; but keep your eyes open--it's one of those years :)
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWs - 3
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1
Eastern Kingbirds - 2
White-eyed Vireos - 8+; singing up a storm
Red-eyed Vireos - 3
(no Ruby-crowned Kinglets)
VEERY - 1
Gray Catbirds - they're back
Ovenbirds and Common Yellowthroats - also back in numbers
Swamp Sparrow - 1 obvious migrant in scrubby field habitat
White-throated Sparrows - 2
BLUE GROSBEAK - great looks at our first of the year
Indigo Buntings - 10+; several performed apparent display flights, singing
excitedly as they flew circuits
Orchard Oriole - 1 female

Red Fox - 2 screaming eerily after dark
American and Fowler's Toads - both singing

We're almost to the weekend!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland

<http://www.billhubick.com>