Hi all,
 Almost as many birders as birds this morning at Blue Mash, though  there 
were actually quite a lot of both. I hooked up early with Montgomery  birders 
Linda Friedland and Ann Lucy and we were then joined by Chris Barnard.  Had some 
nice movement early along the first (new) trail, including 2 new birds  for my 
Blue Mash list (Swainson's Thrush #165 and a pale fall Bay-breasted  Warbler 
#166).  Then we were joined by the Frederick Bird Club's outing  there today, 
and we ran into quite a nice pocket of activity of warblers; many  
Black-throated Greens, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Magnolias, A. Redstart, along  with a few 
empids, and kinglets. Lots of Catbirds, Blue Jays and Robins, as well  as 
Cedar Waxwings about also.
 
We also had views of A. Kestrel and N. Harrier, as well as Red-shoulderd  
Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, lots of flickers and Red-bellieds, E.  
Phoebe, E. Wood Pewee, and Palm Warblers.

Later we were joined by Mark England from Montgomery County, and he and  I 
continued around the whole park while the Frederick Countians left, and the  
rain began. Mark and I had some more warbler activity in a few places, with many  
more Black-throated Greens, Redstarts, Magnolias, and a few Chestnut-sided as 
 well. And more Palms, kinglets, and a possible Yellow-rumped (which 
disappeared  before confirmation). 
 
Anyway, this turned out to be the best warbler day I have had here, both  for 
species variety and numbers in a single day. Only 9 species for sure, but  
lots of birds around, in what I consider to be not a particularly good park for  
warblers. About 50 species seen overall, and the sparrows have yet to arrive. 
 Chris saw what he thought was a Wilson's Warbler in one of the waves, but we 
 lost sight of it before anyone else could see it.
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD 
 (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 
 
PS, I still have a few openings for my MOS/MBC field trip here tomorrow  
(Sunday). Call and leave a message at 301-774-1185 or email me here before too  
late tonight.