At around 5 p.m., we saw a pair of monk parakeets at the intersection
of Connecticut Ave. and Aspen Hill Rd., in Aspen Hill. Here are the details:
This afternoon, my family and I were driving through Aspen Hill. We
swung by Georgia and Aspen Hill Rd. (by the Taco Bell) but it was
windy and no birds flying or perching. The Gates of Heaven Cemetery,
however, looked very promising, with its huge pines and blue spruces.
We saw many monk parakeets while living in Madrid. They are on the
increase there and favor nesting and roosting in pines, often by the highways.
Anyway, I digress....We didn't see any monks but as we were leaving
Aspen Hill on Connecticut Ave., we were at the stop light at Conn.
Ave. and Aspen Hill Road (at about 5 p.m. today, Saturday. My wife
mused that the flock of starlings perched on the powerlines by the
Shell station were parakeets. And just then, a pair of monks landed
just beneath the starlings. We instantly pulled into the Shell
station (north side of Conn.Ave./Aspen Hill Rd. intersection) and I
got my binos on the birds for 30 seconds before they flew off.
Definitely monk parakeets.
Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if they nest at Gates of Heaven. Just
a guess there.
Howard Youth
Bethesda, MD
At 06:07 PM 10/23/2006, you wrote:
>MD Osprey:
>
>I don't know what "safe dates" are for Monk Parakeets ... <grin> ...
>but those of you that travel though Aspen Hill (Montgomery County,
>MD) might keep your eyes open for a pair of Monks around the Taco
>Bell near the corner of MD 97 and Aspen Hill Road. Gail Mackiernan
>had a pair flyover there on 25 Sep 2006 and two years ago, on 23 Nov
>2004, there was a Voice of the Naturalist report of a pair sitting
>on a wire and preening at the same location.
>
>(If anyone knows who reported the birds in 2004, please let me know).
>
>Thanks!
>
>Phil
>
>
>===================================================
>Phil Davis, Secretary
>MD/DC Records Committee
>2549 Vale Court
>Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
>301-261-0184
>mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
>=================================================== |