Like many others I wasn't expecting much this gloomy morning, but thought 
that I should keep trying to cash in on the boreal warbler bonanza while it 
lasts. I took a chance on reliable Milford Mill Park before work, somehow missing 
Steve Sanford along the loop. There wasn't a lot of activity or song, but 3 
CANADA WARBLERS (1 female) were a treat, and one TENNESSEE WARBLER, probably a 
female, foraging fairly low and silently. This was my first ever spring 
Tennessee and a county bird to boot. A nice payoff for low expectations. VEERIES were 
still very conspicuous and vocal.

Later in the day I stopped at the two big Halethorpe Ponds, mainly on the 
off-chance that the Glossy Ibis found by Brian Sykes and reported by Stan Arnold 
might still be there. I was surprised to find 2 GLOSSY IBIS along the north 
side of the big pond. They were visible from the isthmus, one bird standing in 
the open about 200-300 yards east, the other closer but staying partly 
concealed in the reeds. Also here was what I believe to be an ALDER FLYCATCHER, heard 
only, very sporadically singing a rising "reee-beep!" This bird was in the 
trees at the beginning of the isthmus, on the right. Waders were especially 
numerous: 7 GB HERON, 3 GREAT EGRET, and 4 BC NIGHT-HERON. Incidentally, last 
Saturday's BBC trip to the ponds netted a young YC NIGHT-HERON, which might still 
be around; there were several young herons today roosting in the shadows that I 
couldn't ID without a scope.

Lately I've been checking SWAP periodically for Moorhens or Least Bittern, 
without success. But in the early morning, when the tide is out, the mud flats 
have attracted good numbers of shorebirds. On 5/23 there were 7 SEMI PLOVER, 2 
KILLDEER, 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 8 SOLITARY, 12+ SPOTTED and 4 LEAST SANDPIPER. 
Also one brief appearance by a LEAST TERN.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD