Paul and I earlier reported a singing male Blue 
Grosbeak during safe dates, which turned out to
be a bit of a deal, because they are considered 
rare in Garrett County.  This morning, in the strip 
mine reclamation area on 879 Durst Road, further 
downstream on the North Branch of the Castleman 
River from the earlier report, we found a pair of Blue
Grosbeaks together in an alder tree.  

It was quiet trip; with little singing and few fledglings.
We were able to confirm Goldfinch, and add Winter 
Wren as a species.  We saw numerous Cedar Waxwings.
We enjoyed excellent views of Broad-winged Hawks
both yesterday and today; one adult plumaged bird with
a hummingbird in pursuit; and a bird in juvenal plumage,
soaring above a flock of Cedar Waxwings.    
      
Despite being late in the season, because it was on our way, 
we stopped by Blank Road in Allegany County to find the 
Henslow's Sparrow field that was posted earlier.  We were 
greeted by a cheery, joking, call, "I've mowed down your 
bird habitat!"  Charles Geary was happy to direct us to the 
field he hadn't mowed down yet (in back of  the house); 
and we did indeed hear one Henslow's sparrow.  I'd be 
embarrassed to admit how many sparrows we flushed 
without being able to ID any.  OK, it was about seven.    
We did see a Meadowlark, a pair of Kestrels, and a Vesper
Sparrow on a wire.  Charlie says the sparrows stay low when
it is breezy (it was); and said they favor perching on a dark 
plant with seeds he called "dock."   In fact he showed us 3 
lovely photographs a birder had sent him taken 8/7 of a 
Henslow's Sparrow, a Grasshopper Sparrow, and a Bobolink, 
each perched on a stalk of dock.    Whoever sent them - 
he loved them; and we did, too.

Garret County  (Grantsville SW) 

Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Broad-winged Hawk
Cooper's Hawk*
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Veery 
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Black-throated Green Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Blue Grosbeak 
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
*(just outside block)

Blank Road & Bald Knob Road
Allegany County  (Highlights)

Kestrel
Vesper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark

Paul & Elise Kreiss
Baltimore, Maryland