Hi all,
I believe that I may also have seen a BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE today on my way to Towson from Catonsville on I-695. I was just passing the Charles St. exit when I looked on the electric wire located off the outerloop of 695 and I saw a black bird with a long tail, which was wide at the bottom, like a Boat-tailed Grackle's tail. I don't think the tail was big enough to be that of a Great-tailed Grackle.
In other recent highlights for me, yesterday I had a Yellow Palm Warbler and a Yellow-rumped Warbler off the fire road behind Loch Raven Reservoir (near Phoenix Road and Paper Mill Road), a Chipping Sparrow at the Loch Raven Fishing Center, and Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Loch Raven Reservoir near Merryman Mills Rd. I also had my first Maryland Gray Catbird of the year. Last week, we had Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowtrhroat and Green-winged Teal at the reservoir, observed from the NCR trail. I also had an Eastern Wood-Pewee at the golf course, in the woods near the county maintenance buildings.
I am now unofficially up to 109 species for the year.
Good birding,
Richard
Richard L. Wood, Ph. D.
Computational Chemist
Cockeysville, MD 21030
----- Original Message ----
From: Jay Keller <>
To:
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2006 4:28:44 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Boat-tailed Gracke
Hello All,
I am not at all sure if this is unusual for the area of not, but while
driving north on I-95 yesterday to visit family in Cecil County, I spotted
a Boat-tailed Grackle perched in a tree along the road 1 mile south of the
exit to Havre de Grace. Looking on a map, I notice that this is not far
from the Chesapeake Bay, but it struck me that seeing a BT Grackle there
seemed out of place. Disregard this if it is a usual occurrence there.
When I first spotted it from a distance, I thought it must be a crow due
to its size. However, when we came upon it, its oversize tail and
structure was quite evident, and there were several Common Grackles at
other points along the road for comparison.
Thanks,
Jay Keller |