Helen Patton and I went to Garrett County this weekend, county listing on
Saturday and working my atlas block on Sunday. I'll start with the latter
since the best sighting of the weekend was a Ruffed Grouse with fledgling
young (east of Bittinger at intersection of Maynardier Rd and Bear Hill
Rd).
New species for the atlas block were Great Horned Owl, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Yellow
Warbler, Northern Parula, Common Grackle, and Baltimore Oriole. The block
is now up to 64 species compared to 74 during the last atlas.
New quarterblock ticks included Mourning Dove, Great-crested Flycatcher,
Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Black-
throated Blue Warbler, Ovenbird, Field Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.
Potential species foiled by blasted safe dates -- Veery and Bobolink.
Birds away from the Bittinger block included (all 6/4 except where noted):
Common Loon - Piney Reservoir, 6/5
Osprey - Savage River Reservoir
Broad-winged Hawk -- Herrington Manor SP
Ruffed Grouse -- drumming, Big Run SP
Spotted Sandpiper -- Grantsville, Dorsey Hotel Rd
Black-billed Cuckoo -- 1 NB at Big Run SP; 1 singing Green Glade,
Spring Lick Rd
Belted Kingfisher -- Savage River Reservoir
Red-headed Woodpecker -- Gortner, Blue Ribbon Rd
Purple Martin -- Gortner, Joni Miller Rd (close-out)
Cedar Waxwing -- NB at Big Run SP
Carolina Wren -- Friendsville, east end of West Old Morgantown Rd
Winter Wren -- singing, Grantsville, Crab Run Rd
Golden-winged Warbler -- 1 singing Gorman, Althouse Hill Rd
Northern Parula -- NB at Big Run SP
Yellow-rumped Warbler -- 1 singing (and seen) Herrington Manor SP, on hill
above visitor center
Bobolinks -- everywhere
Purple Finch -- at feeder in Friendsville
Bonus birds seen at Old Legislative Rd in Allegany county (6/5) -- Sharp-
shinned Hawk and Golden-winged Warbler.
John Hubbell
Washington DC |