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Blue Mash Nature Trail, Zion Road Section, Montgomery County, 8 Jun 06,
0730-0930

The usual summer suspects comprised the 42 species observed or heard
this morning.  I started out the walk cleaning up the pile of garden
debris some miscreant dumped in the parking lot next to the no
dumping/$500.00 fine sign.

Eleven of the 12 monitored nestboxes along the trail are/were occupied
by Tree Swallows: 2 with eggs/7 with young/2 fledged.  Bluebirds have
fledged from the 12th box.

A short stroll into the woods produced a Wood Thrush and 2 very agitated
Ovenbirds.  One of the Ovenbirds walked within 10 feet of me displaying
wounded bird behavior.  Assumming a nest was in close proximity, I beat
a hasty retreat.

The Canada Goose goslings were conspicuously absent today, more than
likely on the menu of the Red Fox and her kits seen along the access
road.  A Snapping Turtle and a Painted Turtle were dining on the carcass
of an adult Canada Goose floating on the pond.

Evidence of breeding bird activity included a Willow Flycatcher carrying
nest material, an active Cedar Waxwing nest in a branch overhaging the
parking area and a Chipping Sparrow feeding fledged young.

Tom Marko
Olney, MD