Hi Everyone,

I've updated my web site with a few documentation (i.e., poor) photos of
one of the BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEEs at Cromwell Valley Park. After parting
ways with Kevin, my girlfriend Becky and I wandered the Christmas tree
farm for a while. Eventually we encountered a large and vocal flock of
chickadees and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHes. I've never heard such a cacaphony
of "Enk, enk"-ing. There were no less than 15 in one small area of the
grove, and were probably many more. Every chickadee we came across in the
grove was a Black-capped (larger size, proportionally longer tails, messy
bibs, white edging on greater coverts and secondaries, distinctive
vocalizations), and the final total that I'm sure of was 8. Again, there
were probably more birds. The highlight was when one very curious
Red-breasted Nuthatch landed right at eye level and stared at us. After a
couple mesmerizing seconds, I found myself reaching out to see if it would
perch on my hand. A better photographer might have used such an
opportunity for, say, photography :)

After brunch and bloody maries with friends at Sander's Corner (AKA "That
Dam Place"), we worked our way around Loch Raven Reservor. Waterfowl
included many distant SCAUP (200+), RING-NECKED DUCKs (1 close; certainly
more in the distance), BUFFLEHEAD (~20), and RUDDY DUCKs (2). A pleasant
surprise and county bird for me was a single HORNED GREBE. (Not Eared,
unfotunately.)

Photos at <http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html>.

Take care,

Bill Hubick
Elkridge, MD
<http://www.billhubick.com/>



--- Kevin Graff <> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> 
>    Bill Hubick and I got 4, possible up to 8
> Black-capped Chickadees in Sherwood Farm section at
> Cromwell Valley Park today...