Brady and I enjoyed watching a Pine Warbler in the meadow behind the
Brookside Nature Center late yesterday.  A Pileated was digging into a
log nearby.  It was flicking its head back and tossing leaves and pieces
of the rotten log behind it - is that just practical behavior or some
kind of display?  I was reminded of Sandhill Cranes tossing sticks.  I
later heard it calling back and forth with another individual nearby.
Brady also saw Mourning Cloak butterflies on the sugar maples in the
meadow earlier in the day, and the wood frogs let me come sit beside the
little pool there and watch them call.  Not a bad after-work break.

Albert


Albert Hartley
<<www.hartleyphoto.com>>
<<www.albertandbrady.com>>


-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Andy Martin
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:59 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Pine Warbler, Rileys Lock


It was nice to find a Pine Warbler among the Yellow-rumps this afternoon

just past the Riley's Lock bridge.  Also  saw 6 Double-crested 
Cormorants flying up river along with a Greater Black-backed Gull.  With

water temps in the 40s and air temp high 70s it was probably the worst 
shimmer I have ever seen looking through a scope.

Also, according to today's Gaithersburg Gazette, the resident Mute Swan 
at Lake Whetstone was run over by a car last Friday. You can read about 
it at  http://www.gazette.net/stories/031407/gaitnew212835_32322.shtml.

With winds blowing out of the south the last few nights, I put out the 
recording gear. 3 flocks of Tundra Swans past overhead the night of 
12th/13th along with another Killdeer.  Ring-billed Gulls continue to 
pass overhead at night.  Wish I could see 'em to know which way they are

going.  I've observed a few flocks of RBGUs heading SW the past few 
afternoons, which is their normal winter pattern.  Song Sparrows are on 
the move.  Recorded about 8 calls on 12th/13th and about 40 calls last 
night.  Maybe a few Fox Sparrow calls mixed in but they were weak and 
not definitive.

Good birding,

Andy Martin 
Gaithersburg, Mont Co