Blue Mash Nature Trail, Zion Road Section, Montgomery County, 28 Sep 06,
0730-1030

Warblers were plentiful at Blue Mash this morning.  One particular small
tree afforded close, eye-level views of a constant stream of Tennessee,
Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Blackpoll warblers, apparently
gleaning insects off of the bark.  Mixed in were a couple of Ruby-crowned
Kinglet.  At one point I had 3 different warblers within my binocular's
field of vision.  Several Common Yellowthroat and a single Palm Warbler
(eastern) were found further along the trail.

The inner pond held 5 first-of-the-season Ruddy Duck, many Mallard, a Great
Egret, 2 Lesser Yellowleg and several Killdeer.  A No. Harrier and a
Red-shouldered Hawk glided by overhead.  Numerous skeins of low-flying
Canada Geese punctuated the quiet of the morning with their noisy honking.

Other migrants included dozens of insect hawking Chimney Swift, an
unidentified empid and several E. Phoebe.  One of the phoebes begged for
attention as it vocalized with gusto on the fence along the outer pond.
Still no sparrows to speak of except for a few Song and Field.

Tom Marko
Olney, MD