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Re: Northern Shrike in Frederick County near Emmitsburg

From:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Reply-To:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Date:

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:50:01 -0500

Unable to find the Shrike. However I did find the area where it should have
been was dirty with WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, all colored up nice and one even
sang at me. Bonnie Ott would have been thrilled. Also had a NORTHERN HARRIER
glide past near the farmhouse described by prev posts on this bird. A
KESTREL crossed the road in front of me further down in the grassy fields.

Then I went on up for my hike in the Catoctins, the location of which will
have to remain secret for reasons that will be evident in a moment. Juncos
were plentiful and I had a 5-WOODPECKER day - Pileated, Red-bellied, Downy,
Flicker and Sapsucker. I checked a spot near Taneytown hoping to add
Red-headed, but failed. Scads of White-throats and several Golden-Crowned
Kinglets. HERMIT THURSH were everywhere. A COMMON RAVEN flew over and was
rather noisy as he did so. I seldom see them in the Catoctins. They're more
common over on South Mountain.

Now the reason why I won't divulge my location in the Catoctins: there are
hunters on this list. Today I saw the biggest buck I've ever encountered in
Maryland. Beautiful 8-point rack and a neck like an NFL lineman. He was on
the trail just ahead of me and gave me a good once over before he decided I
might be trouble. I was glad when he ran. I've heard the big ones can get a
bit testy during the rut. The only White-tails I've ever seen that were
bigger was one near Kissimmee in Florida that I thought was a small tree
when I first spotted it. Then I realized those weren't branches - it was his
rack. King Ranch in Texas is famous for its deer herd, which is carefully
managed for trophy hunting. During a nature tour of the place a few years
ago, the guide pointed out the biggest trophy in the bunch. WOW! By the way,
we got 8 life birds on that tour. Well worth the trip.
    I've also seen a couple Mulies out west that would top the White-tail I
saw today, but they tend to run bigger anyway. I sometimes wonder if they
aren't a bit closer related to Elk.
    Jerry Tarbell
    Carroll County