Hi all,
  I birded the Mash both days this weekend, hoping to find something  better 
on Sunday than was there on Saturday (not much). Saturday was unusually  
quiet, but Sunday was even more so. Where are all the birds?
 
Saturday highlights were few; Osprey catching a small fish in the big pond,  
A. Kestrel, a pair of hummingbirds, a few phoebes and a calling pewee, a  
late(ish) Great-crested Flycatcher, male Blue Grosbeak, and a paltry handful of  
warblers not really worth mentioning.
 
Sunday highlights; a single adult BOBOLINK squeeked up out of the woods by  
the end of the "green tunnel" in a most unusual place, a new bird for my park  
list. Also had 2 young Blue Grosbeaks but no adult seen, a late(ish) Barn  
Swallow, an early(ish) RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, a male Kestrel chasing after both  
Flickers and Mourning Doves (spunky bird!), a handful of Broad-winged Hawks, a  
single Red-tailed, a Cooper's and Sharp-shinned flyover,a huge flock of  
migrating grackles, a pair of Blue-winged Teal and 4 Green-winged Teal, along  
with Black Duck and Mallards, a nice flock of Chipping Sparrows, and Scarlet  
Tanager. Also a nest with 3 ready-to-go American Goldfinches,with another in the  
branch below.
 
Good numbers of Chimney Swifts still around, and a few Nighthawks were  still 
seen here in Ashton as of Friday evening, Sept. 16.
 
Rick Sussman 
Ashton,MD