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Subject:

Howard and Montgomery Counties

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Thu, 5 Apr 2007 18:39:21 -0700

Hello again,

My friend Matt Tillett and I had a great time birding a few spots in
Howard Co. and eastern Montgomery Co. this afternoon. We started at
Centennial Lake, which was swarming with swallows. There were hundreds of
TREE SWALLOWs, at least 10 BARN SWALLOWs, a few NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOWs, and a single PURPLE MARTIN. Other birds of note included a
handsome COMMON LOON in breeding plumage, two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs,
two PIED-BILLED GREBEs, seven RING-NECKED DUCKs, two AMERICAN COOTs, and
two very close WILSON'S SNIPE. The latter two species were in the shallow
western part of the lake. We ran into June Tveekrem, who had seen a YELLOW
PALM WARBLER while there.

We then hiked for a couple hours at Middle Patuxent Environmental Area.
Although fairly quiet, we did have a few species worth mentioning. It's
always interesting watching the early spring changeover of species.

Eastern Phoebe--2
Brown Creeper--3
Golden-crowned Kinglet--5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--2
Eastern Towhee--5
Swamp Sparrow--2
White-throated Sparrow--10
Slate-colored Junco--15
American Goldfinches--Many; 1 doing a display flight

We then decided to check for waterfowl on Triadelphia, spotting only a
single Canada Goose from Brighton Dam. We continued northwest around the
reservoir, launching Matt's first county listing assault on Montgomery
County. Additional water access stops added only a single DC CORMORANT.
Land birds were also thin in the chilly late afternoon, but we did have a
great highlight. Driving out on Greenbridge Road I had to hit the brakes
because I could have sworn there was a BARRED OWL sitting on a fenceline
along a field. I backed up and it actually WAS a Barred Owl sitting on a
fenceline along a field. The beautiful bird was ignoring a mild mobbing of
songbirds and allowed a terrific study. We might not have hit a
county-listing jackpot, but you can't complain when you have great looks
at any owl. 

I spoke to Hans Holbrook on my way home. He mentioned having a single
BONAPARTE'S GULL at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab this afternoon -
a good bird for Howard County.

Good birding, 

Bill

Bill Hubick
St. Denis, Baltimore Co., Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com