On Sunday, Jane and I went to the end of Lloyd Bowen Rd. to see if we
could up the confidence level of Brown-headed Nuthatch in one of our
atlas blocks (Broomes SE). Phil Davis has already reminded me that this
is outside of the current accepted range for BHNU so this might indicate
a slight range expansion.

Anyway, we arrived to find no visible or vocal BHNUs. We walked up and
down the road for at least 30 minutes before I heard the first one in
the woods to the north of the road. Eventually, it/they moved into the
woods adjacent the marshy area and became very vocal and visible.
Finally, there were at least four birds present in two trees on either
side of the marsh. One bird, as we watched, positioned a pine nut in its
bill then flew off to the other tree to feed one of the two birds
waiting there. Bingo! FY = Feeding Young. Interestingly, the young birds
were making a vocalization we had never heard before. Not quite a
begging call but more raucous than the squeaky toy sound they usually
make. If we ever hear it again, we'll be more observant for possible
juveniles.

The other bonus for the day was a male Am. Kestrel hovering over one of
the corn fields in Broomes CE. I'd love to up it in the ensuing weeks to
at least probable!

Tyler Bell

California, MD