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Subject:

Blue Mash Saturday April 14

From:

Rick Sussman

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Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:17:57 EDT

Hi all,
 I led a small group (3+myself) of relatively new birders around  Blue Mash 
yesterday morning. Though still a bit slow, things were better than 2  weeks 
ago, and we saw or heard 49 species. Best birds were the excellent looks  we got 
at 3-4 Caspian Terns as they hunted over both ponds, at times coming  right 
in front or over us. They were really beautiful! We also had killer views  of 
3-4 Palm Warblers, some at extremely close range, just perched in the fence  
around the small pond. 
 
Other birds of interest were at least 36 flyover Common Loons in varying  
size groups of from 1 to 18 birds, throughout the morning, 3 Bonaparte's Gulls  
flying over, Brown Thrashers, a single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped  
Warblers, still in basic plumage, DC Cormorants, Buffleheads, Great Blue Heron,  
Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks (one of which we watched 
go  into a stoop and land on something beyond the shrubs-outstanding as it 
plumetted  downward!), lots of singing towhees, Swamp Sparrow, Field, Chipping, 
Song,  White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos. 
 
We also watched a male American Kestrel as it was chased off its (first)  
perch by a defensive male Red-winged Blackbird then was knocked off its second  
perch by a territorial Mockingbird! Like Rodney Dangerfield, it "don't get no  
respect" :--)
 
As with most trips to Blue Mash, this one produced a wide variety of bird  
species, one of the many reasons I love the place. By the way, the Caspian Terns 
 and the Bonies were 2 new species for my Blue Mash list, which now stands at 
 169!
 
Enjoy the storm...
 
Rick Sussman
Ashton,MD
 (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 



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