Hi Everyone,
I did some birding at Middle Patuxent Environmental Area in Howard County this afternoon (5/23), eventually meeting up with Hans Holbrook at around 6:30 p.m. Although there were interesting birds throughout the afternoon, the most noteworthy observation was saved for last. At about 8:00 p.m., about 100 yards into the woods beyond the first meadow (left trail), we heard a call note that stopped us both in our tracks. It was a GRAY-CHEEKED or BICKNELL'S THRUSH calling its "veeer" notes. It called many times, moved, and was eventually answered by another bird nearby. They never sang or presented a view. We lost them after a few minutes, and spent the next 30 minutes trying to refind them. I've heard two Gray-cheeks this year, and both times had the thought "definitely NOT a Bicknell's." I'm not ready to call a Bicknell's on just call notes, but I found these interesting. On the other hand, Hans was leaning toward Gray-cheeked by the time we left. Who knows? You have to let
some of them go. :)
Of note, though, the BICKNELL'S that Hans and I identified last year was present on 24 and 25 May.
Other sightings of note included the following:
Wood Duck--1 hen
Red-shouldered Hawks--1or 2
Hairy Woodpeckers--(P)air; (A)gitated
Eastern Wood-Pewees--4
Acadian Flycatchers--6
Eastern Phoebes--3
Great Crested Flycatcher--1
White-eyed Vireos--4
Yellow-throated Vireos--3
Red-eyed Vireos--10
Blue Jays--In stealth nesting mode
NRW Swallows--4; Hans confirmed this week that they're nesting in last year's kingfisher hole
House Wrens--2
Eastern Bluebirds--8
VEERIES--4 singing
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--1 singing
Wood Thrushes--only 5 heard; probably busy with other responsibilities
Gray Catbirds--12+
Blue-winged Warblers--0; Hans had one early in the season, and that's been it. Last year they were observed nearly every visit.
Northern Parulas--5
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER--1 female
BLACKPOLL WARBLERs--2
American Redstarts--4
Ovenbirds--8
Common Yellowthroats--10+
CANADA WARBLER--1 female
Scarlet Tanagers--10+
Indigo Buntings--20+
Black Rat Snake--1, about 4', climbing up a standing dead snag
Tiger Swallowtail--1
Good birding,
Bill
Bill Hubick
Elkridge, MD
bill_hubick AT yahoo.com
http://www.billhubick.com |