I was happy to finally see my first BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT
HERON of the year on the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park
trail in College Park, PG County. This adult in breeding
plumage was perched near the stream at the northern (Cherry
Hill Rd) end of the trail. Ryan Farrell reported BCNH on at
least 2 occasions here earlier this year, but this was my
first personal record for the path.
Some other good birds today as well. Here's my report:
Report Details
Location name: Paint Branch Stream Valley Park
Observation date: 6/16/06
Duration: 1 hour(s) 25 minute(s)
# of people in birding party: 1
Are you reporting all the species you identified? Yes
Total # of species: 42
Observation type: Traveling Count
Start time: 8:40 AM
Distance covered: 2.5 mile(s)
Area covered: N/A
Checklist diary notes:
My first chance to bird the path in a while, and perhaps the
last of my regular surveys of this area, since we're moving
to Laurel on June 22. Highlight today was an adult
Black-crowned Night-Heron in breeding plumage, perched
conspicuously above the stream near the Cherry Hill Rd trail
head. My first of the year and first ever for the path (Ryan
reported BCNH on two occasions earlier this year). Also saw
my first Purple Martin of the year over the "tornado field",
a male in bad light but the underparts were black. The
Osprey was soaring over the same area. The Cooper's Hawk
flushed some songbirds at the marsh. The Red-shouldered Hawk
was seen distantly from the marsh---rufous underparts and
faint calls. May have heard Belted Kingfisher. May have
glimpsed a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (prominent white
eyestripe); this was in the northern section of forested
stream.
Species Details
Species Name Number Reported
Canada Goose 20
Green Heron 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 20
Chimney Swift 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 2
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
crow sp. 2
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 15
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 10
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 10
European Starling 30
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Song Sparrow 5
Northern Cardinal 15
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 30
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Orchard Oriole 1
Baltimore Oriole 2
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 2
--
Derek C. Richardson, College Park, PG County, MD
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~dcr/Archives/Photos/birds.html |