Participants in the Baltimore Bird Club field trip to the North Tract 
of Patuxent NWR, Sunday, May 7, enjoyed the typical collection of 
southern-flavored birds including the ever-faithful Summer Tanagers, 
Blue Grosbeaks, Prairie Warblers, and Chats, which we got good looks 
at. We also enjoyed good looks at Hooded Warblers down by the big ant 
hill on the right beyond Merganser Pond, where they seem to be every 
year, but we rarely actually see them. We had 17 warbler species. A 
few disappointing misses, though, were Prothonotary, Kentucky, and 
Yellow Warblers.

The biggest surprise was 5 close-up, singing Bobolinks in trees by the 
beginning of Lake Allen. In many years of birding at the North Tract, 
I certainly never encountered Bobolinks before.

We also were pleased to run into former Baltimore birder Ben Yokel, 
who was particularly noted for finding all sorts of warblers at 
Cylburn Arboretum. He was visiting with his son, who spotted our first 
Summer Tanager. Ben has been living in northern Minnesota about 15 
years, and sends his regards to all his old Baltimore-area birding 
friends.

Señor Números (Kevin Graff) will post a full list.

Señor Tángara
(Steve Sanford)
Randallstown MD (Balto Co)
scartanATverizonDOTnet