Hi Folks,

Following the morning monsoon, Elaine and I got out for our first ever visit
to the Blue Mash Nature Trail in northeastern Montgomery Co., surprisingly
close to areas where I've done the Triadelphia Christmas Bird Count for
several years.  Rick Sussman provided me with some excellent directions and
pointers, along with the link to a nice map of the area.  I was absolutely
impressed with this place.  We ended our hike with 56 species of birds, a
highly respectable showing for the middle of the day in early July.  Since
several people are interested in Blue Mash, I will provide a complete
listing of what was seen, with approximate numbers, and atlas codes for
anyone keeping track.

Date:  8 July 2005
Time:  11:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Rain ending around 11 a.m., skies mostly overcast, but clearing, with wind
diminishing

Canada Goose--ca 25, both ponds
Wood Duck--6-8, with young?; headed into the vegetation of the small pond
before I got a good look
Mallard--1, big pond
N. Bobwhite--heard almost incessantly in what we believe were three
different locations--perhaps three birds
Great Blue Heron--2, small pond
Green Heron--1, small pond
Black Vulture--5 overhead
Turkey Vulture--7 overhead
Bald Ealge--1 flyover, imm
Red-shouldered Hawk--1 calling, in woods
Red-tailed Hawk--1 overhead
Killdeer--2, large pond
Lesser Yellowlegs--1 in soggy short grass by admin building inside fence to
landfill
Mourning Dove--2
Hummingbird--1 zipped by near parking area
Barred Owl--1 calling spontaneously from across Zion Rd. around noon
Chimney Swift--6
Red-bellied Woodpecker--2 in woods
Hairy Woodpecker--pair interacting in woods (P)
N. Flicker--4 in or near woods
E. Wood-Pewee--3, 2 heard and 1 seen
Willow Flycatcher--2 well viewed, both making "wit" calls; one holding bug
in mouth (FY)
E. Kingbird--1
Red-eyed Vireo--2 in woods
Blue Jay--4 in woods
Am. Crow--5, squawking in response to the Barred Owl
Purple Martin--1 flyover
Tree Swallow--10
Barn Swallow--5
C. Chickadee--2
T. Titmouse--2
WB Nuthatch--4 in woods
Carolina Wren--2
House Wren--3; female in and out of last box on left of gravel road (before
gate to landfill), while male sang nearby (ON)
BG Gnatcatcher--1 or 2 near parking area
E. Bluebird--4; one female flying from a nestbox (ON)
Wood Thrush--3 singing in woods
Am. Robin--5
G. Catbird--numerous, and vocal
N. Mockingbird--4
Brown Thrasher--7
Eur. Starling--15
Cedar Waxwing--12
Yellow Warbler--2, 1 seen and 1 heard
Common Yellowthroat--numerous and vocal
Yellow-breasted Chat--6
E. Towhee--3
Field Sparrow--numerous and vocal
Song Sparrow--3
N. Cardinal--2 heard singing
INdigo Bunting--5
Red-winged Blackbird--1, small pond
Common Grackle--just 1
Orchard Oriole--pair (P)
House Finch--1 on utility wire along Zion Rd.
Am. Goldfinch--15

After leaving Blue Mash, a few other birds found in Montgomery Co. were:

Acadian Flycatcher--1 vocalizing along Howard Chappel Rd.
Great Crested Flycatcher--1, Gregg Rd.
N. Parula--1 singing along Elton Farm Rd.
Scarlet Tanager--1 singing along Gregg Rd.
Blue Grosbeak--1 singing along Elton Farm Rd.

In western Howard Co. we had Grasshopper Sparrow singing along Mullinix Rd.,
and E. Meadowlark singing where they've been for years, in the hay field off
of Roxbury Rd.  A Green Heron was the only bird of casual interest at
Warfield Pond off of McClintock Rd.  A N. Parula was vocal at 3 p.m. along
Carr's Mill Rd., but the shorebird pond along that road at W. Regional Park
was flooded and devoid of birds.

Good birding and atlasing,

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie