Folks

Gwen Brewer and I did our usual area of Allen's Fresh and Cobb Neck on May Count in Charles County, starting at 4:00 AM, and like many found the migrants hard to find.  We started pre-dawn at Allen's Fresh and tried for rails and bitters but got nothing.  Gwen did spot a Glossy Ibis (missed in the 04 big year effort) flying toward the marsh shortly after dawn, so the loss of sleep was worth it.  We also found a Great Horned Owl being harassed by American Crows, and two of our nest boxes had young Barn Owls.  The Barn Owls are on private property and not accessible to the public - sorry.

Our highlights after the Ibis was 3 Common Loon at Cobb Island, a male Bufflehead at Morgantown, Red-breasted Merganser at Swan Point, one Ruddy Duck off Wicomico Beach Road, one American Kestrel on a wire along Rt. 257, 2 Semipalmated Plovers and about 30 Least Sandpipers at Allen's Fresh on first visit, 3 Semipalmated Sandpiper and one Wilson's Snipe at Allen's Fresh on our second visit of the day.  We also located Northern Bobwhite at Bank's Ode Rd., Marsh Wren at Allen's Fresh, one singing Warbling Vireo at Morgantown Rd. (a county bird for Gwen), 5-Cedar Waxwing (same location - Gwen sure has great hearing), and Veery and Swainson's Thrush at the house about 4 AM on May 14.  For the day we tallied 13 species of warblers - most on territory except Black-throated Blue and Blackpoll (not one Myrtle - go figure), both Tanager species, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlark, and a tons of Orchard Orioles, but no Baltimore.  We finished with Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the house for our 112th species before the rains came at 8 PM.

As a result of the rain we missed both goatsuckers.  My Whips at the house did not sing until 4 AM. May 15.  I had stepped out on the deck to see what might be around after the storm cleared.  Also a Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo called, and Barred Owl and a Scarlet Tanager sang.  The tanager was a first for me singing at night.  

If anyone out there birded in Charles County on May 14 and keep data, please send me a message including species, numbers, hours birded, etc.  I had teams in  most parts of the county but additional data will be welcomed.  I will take data electronically or hard copy via snail mail.

Thanks in advance.

George Jett
9505 Bland Street
Waldorf, MD 20603