Sparrow numbers have been increasing this week at Southwest Area Park, so I 
spent this morning working the weedy fields and brushy areas in hopes of 
finding something good like Orange-crowned Warbler or one of the rare sparrows. Not 
today, but sparrow numbers were impressive even though diversity was not 
great. They were everywhere, with several large concentrations feeding along the 
loop trail and on the shoulder of the road to the boat ramp, as well as 
scattered throughout the fields. Below are some highlights from the morning. Most 
numbers are approximations.

Canada Goose - 40
Mallard - 2
DC Cormorant - 11
Great Blue Heron - 2
Great Egret - 4
Osprey 
Cooper's Hawk 
Red-shouldered Hawk 
Killdeer
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 flyby
Laughing Gull 
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4
Hermit Thrush
Gray Catbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10 (down from a few days ago)
Palm Warbler - 8 (all yellow)
Common Yellowthroat - 1 male
FIELD SPARROW - 2
SAVANNAH SPARROW - 20
FOX SPARROW - 1 (f.o.s.)
SONG SPARROW - 50+
SWAMP SPARROW - 15 (1 in immaculate breeding plumage)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - 50+
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - 2 imm.
JUNCO - 1
Eastern Meadowlark - 1 flushed from thick grass on loop trail
House Finch - 40+, the most I've ever seen here
American Goldfinch - 10

Back on 10/13 I had a nice, long study of a female Merlin at SWAP, perched in 
the large dead tree overlooking the marsh. Maybe the same one seen off and on 
throughout last winter.

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD