Hi Everyone,

After stepping into my yard this morning to the sounds of PRAIRIE and
BLACKPOLL WARBLERs, then hearing 4 SWAINSON'S THRUSHes on my lunch walk at
work in Anne Arundel County, I knew I had to get out for some birding this
afternoon. That hunch proved to be well-founded! I headed out to Middle
Patuxent Environmental Area at 3:30 this afternoon, and one of my first
birds was a beautiful WILSON'S WARBLER about 100 yards into the woods. I
soon met up with Hans Holbrook, and we birded the very productive area well
into the afternoon. It was an incredible day for thrushes, and we'd like to
point out that anyone hoping to hear AND SEE migrant thrushes should
consider this area over the next couple weeks. Below are some of the
highlights:

Barred Owl - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5
Acadian Flycatcher - 8
GC Flycatcher - 1
White-eyed Vireo - 3
Yellow-throated Vireo - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 20+
House Wren - 10+
VEERY - 6+; one with nesting material
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH - 1 singing
SWAINSON'S THRUSH - 20+!
Cedar Waxwing - 1; Hans heard large numbers have wandered down to Central
America (particularly Costa Rica) - can anyone confirm or elaborate on this?
Blue-winged Warbler - 1-2
Northern Parula - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 female
Blackpoll Warbler - 3
American Redstart - 8
Ovenbird - 5
Kentucky Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - ~10
WILSON'S WARBLER - 1
CANADA WARBLER - 1
Scarlet Tanager - ~10
Indigo Bunting - surprising numbers (10+) along the river

After leaving the park, we stopped by the runoff area where the SHORT-BILLED
DOWITCHER was recently found, and easily spotted it with small numbers of
the more expected shorebirds. We then hung out at a friend of Hans' house,
and had Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. We tried
our ears at listening for some flight calls after dark, but the best we
could do was 1 Spotted Sandpiper and an Acadian Flycatcher. There wasn't
much to be heard at the location, but we'll keep trying!

Have a great week,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland

www.billhubick.com