Hi Everyone,

I spent a few hours this morning and early afternoon hiking at Soldier's
Delight Natural Environment Area, specifically the Serpentine and Choate
Mine Trails. For anyone who has not yet visited, Soldier's Delight is a
protected area of serpentine grasslands (or serpentine barrens), a globally
rare habitat type. Just minutes from the Baltimore beltway, this gem offers
not only great hiking, but also the opportunity to study rare and localized
flora and fauna, particularly wildflowers and insects. An interesting
perpetual battle is underway here: Virginia Pine and Greenbriar versus
endemic grassland species and naturalists with hacksaws. To reach the park,
take MD-26 (Liberty Road) west from I-695 about 5 miles and take a right on
Deer Park Road. The park is on your left after about 2 miles. You can park
at the visitor's center (which has a sign), or continue to the pull-off just
past it (my preference; more trail options).

Basic park info:
<http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/soldiers.html>

About serpentine grasslands:
<http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/serpentine.asp>

Nothing TOO exciting bird-wise today, but I noticed that BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERS are once again vocal and conspicuous. This is truly a bird that
is either rarely out of earshot or nowhere to be found. Like grackles, it
seems they practically disappear when they are nesting. Also noteworthy was
the non-stop goldfinch activity, a sure sign that summer is quickly becoming
late summer. Below are all of my sightings for the hike. I was in the mood
to do a precise scientific survey today, so numbers are exact :).

The birds: Black Vulture (1), Turkey Vultures (6), Red-shouldered Hawk (1),
Mourning Doves (3), "All white dove, like the kind they release at weddings"
(1; reported to me by another hiker), Yellow-billed Cuckoos (3), Chimney
Swifts (5), Downy Woodpeckers (5), Eastern Wood-Pewees (3), Acadian
Flycatcher (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Eastern Kingbirds (2), White-eyed Vireos
(2), Red-eyed Vireos (3), American Crows (5), Fish Crow (1), Purple Martins
(9), Barn Swallows (5), Carolina Chickadees (4), Tufted Titmice (3),
White-breasted Nuthatches (3), Carolina Wrens (3), House Wren (1), BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERS (18), Eastern Bluebirds (9, inc. fledged young), Gray Catbirds
(5), Cedar Waxwings (7), no warblers, Eastern Towhees (25), Chipping
Sparrows (5), Field Sparrows (15), Northern Cardinals (13), Indigo Buntings
(3), AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES (44).

Mammals: E. Chipmunk (1), E. Gray Squirrel (1), White-tailed Deer (4).

Butterflies: E. Tiger Swallowtails (26), Spicebush Swallowtails (9),
Red-spotted Purple (1), Red-banded Hairstreak (1), Pearl Crescents (2),
Common Wood-nymph (1), Horace's Duskywing (1), Peck's Skippers (3), probable
Tawny-edged Skippers (7; I have photos if anyone wants to confirm or deny
:)).

Odes: Fawn Darner (1; my first), Twelve-spotted Skimmers (9), Common
White-tails (26), Blue Dashers (10), several species of damselflies.

Other: Allegheny Mound Ants (6 mounds), cicadas singing incessantly (so
strange when they suddenly become quiet after a long period), a large
termite colony under a log, a cool ambush bug poised to strike, tiger
beetles.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland
<>
<www.billhubick.com>