Greetings All,

As a follow-up to Jim's post, here's some more info: 

When walking up Adler Lane there will be a line of Pine trees on your left parallel to the lane. There is a small open field beyond these trees on the southwest corner of Adler and Redding Ferry that is about the size of a football field. This field is separated from the larger, more northern field by another line of pine trees. As you walk up Adler Lane and pass the tree line that separates the two fields, you'll see on your left what looks like a deer trail that will take you into the SE corner of the large field to the north. As soon as you pass through the pines and enter the field, the kingbird was working the line of trees to your right that parallels Adler Lane on the field side of the tree line. Sometimes the bird was sitting on a very exposed perch and at other times it was tucked in amongst the folliage just a foot or so off the ground. A Phoebe was also in this area. Be advised, this part of the field was still very wet, more than ankle deep in spots, from last weekends 
rains and venturing more than 15 yards or so west into the field would require waterproof boots, unless you're Jim Stasz who doesn't care if his feet are wet and cold all day. Be advised, Mr. lilly only owns the property up to Adler Lane. 

The kingbird was hawking insects in the field from pine branch perches from 5 feet or below along this line. At no time was the bird observed more than about 5 feet from the ground and most of the time was less than 3 feet up. It was a cold morning with widespread frost today and little was flying at about 10:00 am when we located the bird. However, the 6 inch to foot high grass must have provided protection to the insects on the ground because the bird was observed taking a grasshopper and several other unidentified insects from this position. The bird called several times while feeding.

Mr. Lilly was very interested in what we were seeing and I talked with him for about 15 minutes or so about this and a few other birds. He was very generous in granting us the permission and only asked that we respected his property. BE ADVISED - ALL OF THE PROPERTY ON THE EAST SIDE OF ADLER IS OWNED BY ANOTHER PROPERTY OWNER AND WE HAVE NOT OBTAINED PERMISSION TO ENTER THAT PROPERTY.

After leaving the kingbird, I swung by Blackwater NWR where I drove the wildlife loop and found about 25 adult White Pelicans at their usual spot near the far end of the drive. From there I headed to Hooper's 
Island in hopes of finding the Collared-Doves there. Other than a sapsucker and a flock of Brown-headed Nuthatches in the pine trees across from the pole and mailbox in front of 2343 that was mentioned in a post about a month ago, there wasn't much to be found at midday. I did find a pair of doves but, unfortunately, they turned out to be of the Mourning variety up the road near the original spot for these birds.

Ed Boyd

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Jim Stasz <> 

> Hi Folks! 
> 
> I just got a call from Ed Boyd who went to look for the Tropical Kingbird. The 
> bird did not appear in the usual location by the house. Ed ran into the 
> landowner, Tom Lilly, who owns the land on the south side of Adler Lane and west 
> of Redding Ferry Road, and got permission for birders in general to enter the 
> land. On the west side of Redding Ferry and on the south side of Adler Lane are 
> two fields lined with pines. Walk west on Adler Road to to the second field and 
> look for the path that the deer have made [please do not make any new breaks in 
> the pine row on the south side of Adler Lane]. The Tropical Kingbird and an 
> Eastern Phoebe were favoring the west side of the field. 
> 
> For those who have not been to the site, follow the previous direction to the 
> gray house. Adler Lane is on the west side of Redding Ferry Road and is clearly 
> marked. There are other landowners who use Adler Lane as a driveway and I spoke 
> with a few of them last week, so they know the reason for the sudden inlflux of 
> "tourists". 
> 
> Good Birding! 
> 
> Jim 
> 
> Jim Stasz 
> North Beach MD 
>  
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