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Subject:

Rock Creek today 10/26

From:

"Gail B. Mackiernan "

Reply-To:

Gail B. Mackiernan

Date:

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:45:47 +0000

Hi all --

This is about as late as we ever go to Rock Creek, but the weather seemed right for a good migration -- which was reflected in 100s of sparrows everywhere, especially in the Maintenance Yard where we started. Very cold, frost on the ground. Derek Richardson the only other birder. The neotropical migrants are pretty well gone, but we had two (perhaps three) ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS today, one giving dynamite views in the Yard and the other in Military Field. (We also think there was a third, duller bird in the Yard but not sure about this). The many many sparrows were primarily Chipping and Song, alas no rarities were seen although I would not be surprsed if something good was around! Lots of Winter Wrens and a god number of Hermit Thrushes as well.

Warblers: Myrtle (4, where are they?), Nashville (1), ORANGE-CROWNED (2-3), Palm (1, yellow).

Other migrants: Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), MERLIN (1, dashed through the Yard), Blue-headed Vireo (1-2), Hermit Thrush (6), WOOD THRUSH (1, late), Bluebird (8), Catbird (2), Winter Wren (7), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (~15), Golden-crowned Kinglet (4). Song Sparrow (~100), Chipping Sparrow (~100), Field Sparrow (2), Swamp Sparrow (4), White-throated Sparrow (~25), Junco (10-12), Towhee (7)

A good though cold morning!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD