I checked in with one of my atlas blocks this morning (Barton CE) and was
gratified with sightings of a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk that was perched
on a snag giving a pair of Brown Thrashers fits. A Mockingbird was right
where John Hubbell described seeing 2 of them (sorry I missed you John).
The mockingbird was new for me in this block during the atlas season. I
also had a single Henslowe's Sparrow singing from Russel Road a bit further
West near 2 Vesper Sparrows (I confirmed the Vespers here a couple of years
ago). There were 6 American Kestrels cavorting even further West (on a bit
of a plateau). I also finally confirmed Indigo Bunting in this block (I
only had probable prior to today).
There is a tiny piece of this block (in QB1) that has some deeper woods
where I had Barred Owls giving begging calls (at least 2 calling and at
least 3 birds glimpsed). I managed to get an excellent look at one of the
calling birds. A Blue-headed Vireo was singing from the same general area
where the Savage River Hiking Trail crosses the road.
J.B.
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John B. Churchill
Frostburg, MD
digiscoping:
http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~jchurchi/jbscoping.html
webpage: http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~jchurchi
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