This afternoon from about 3 until 7 I got the chance to bird Overbrook Park
and the former Bowie landfill (north MD 3 and MD 450). The weather was
spectacular and there were lots of birds about. Warblers included 1 Blue-
winged Warbler, 1 close singing Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, American
Redstart, a pair of Pine Warblers, several singing Ovenbirds, and some Yellow-
rumped Warblers. Other woodland birds included many Gnatcatcher,
Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrows, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied
Woodpeckers, Flickers, and Pileated Woodpeckers. Also present was several
White-eyed Vireos, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, and 1 Ruby-
crowned Kinglet, as well as many Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, and White-
breasted Nuthatches.
Some other nice surprises included 1 Rusty Blackbird foraging in a wet area
and a flyover Broad-winged Hawk. I also found two Solitary Sandpipers
feeding along wood creeks near the Patuxent.
At the former landfill site, I got close views of two bright Savannah Sparrows,
many Barn Swallows, a pair of Bluebirds, and one Northern Rough-winged
Swallow. Also of note were two Wilson's Snipe atop the second mound. An
adult Red-tailed Hawk circled overhead.
Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS
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