After leading a trip to Jeff Pat Pk, I'm wondering if the birds know that it's May.  At the waterfront, we found 6 Bufflehead, along with both the Horned and Eared Grebes in breeding plumage.  Much to our surprise, we also found a Red-throated Loon in very nearly complete breeding plumage.
 
The fields between the road and waterfront have lots of Eastern Kingbirds, Indigo Buntings, Chipping Sparrows, and an occasional Blue Grosbeak.  We also saw a Gray fox with a rabbit in its mouth.
 
The warbler activity near the visitor center and woodland loop trail was busy, but the birds were too busy feeding after the previous day's rain to be bothered with showing themselves.  We heard far more than we saw.  The Kentucky Warbler is still near the stream, but we never saw him.  Lots of Blackpolls, again heard far more than we saw.  Heard both Swainson's & Wood Thrushes.  We eventually found a Scarlet Tanager.  Lots of flycatchers - Great Creasted, Pewee, Acadian, Pheobe.  We gave up trying to identify a few silent Empies.  Also saw a couple of Red Fox - perhaps they are the cause of the lack of Ovenbirds.
 
At the visitor center, we stooped when we saw a female tanager on the sidewalk.  She had been stunned when she few into the glass window and was just sitting there recovering.  Eventually, we decided she was a Summer Tanager.  She recovered and flew into a nearby tree.
 
On the way out, we stopped at Cage Rd to check out the Grasshopper Sparrow.  As we pulled up, I thought it was very loud.  No wonder, he was perched on a wooden & brick sign.  He didn't flinch as we parked the cars, got out, and oogled him as he threw his head back and sang.  Don't often get very close looks in good light.  The at the same location, we also had Meadolarks and Horned Larks (heard only).
 
Kathie


Kathie Lambert
kbert59 @ yahoo.com
Harwood, MD
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com