Date: 11/19/05
Time: Loch Raven area - old picnic area (west of the Sheet area)


   I identified 2 Black-capped Chickadees in with a larger group of related
species, including Carolina Chickadee, 
both nuthatches, gc kinglet, Brown Creeper.

  Brief notes:
     1 - identified by call first ( a slower, lower, hoarser
chick-a-dee-dee-dee call ) Prior to that time today, I had    		been
listening to 3 groups of Carolinas calling. 
     2 - white on the greater coverts
     3 - lower edge of the black bib was ragged ( not the neat black edge of
the Carolina's)
     4 - relatively longer tail ( again with reference to having seen prior
flocks of Carolinas;  As Ken Kaufman says, to learn the unusual birds (ie
Black-capped), speand time studying the common birds ( ie Carolina ))

     I did not get to see the cheecks well and could not say the the cheecks
were all white; I was unable to see the bird well enuf to verify what Jim
Stasz posted recently:  that the black in the nape touches the back area
more extensively. 

   Other notes:
            52 Red-breasted Nuthatches ( some came to within 5 feet )
		1 Rusty Blackbird ( actually seen Friday in the marshy area
notheast of the Sheet range and south of Pierces )



  good birding!!	




R. Taylor McLean, Jr.
410-377-2153

Towson, MD