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Subject:

Heron Point Walk 28 April

From:

Walter Ellison

Reply-To:

Walter Ellison

Date:

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:27:29 -0400

Greetings,

Twelve participants joined us for a very pleasant walk around the Heron 
Point community in Chestertown Saturday morning, 28 April. We began on 
the West Woods path, noting several of the 'regulars' such as Song and 
White-throated sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and cardinal, as well as 
recently-returned Chimney Swifts and a singing Common Yellowthroat. 
Nearing the boardwalk, we spied an active Ruby-crowned Kinglet foraging 
among oak blossoms. The excellent marsh habitat crossed by the boardwalk 
hid about five Virginia Rails willing to answer an imitation of their 
call, but unwilling to show themselves. Two Heron Point residents who 
are long-time birders said that the rails tended to be more visible in 
May. A couple of Purple Martins showed interest in the house erected for 
them and a pair of Osprey attended their nest near the screen house. A 
pair of Least Terns rested on the boat dock, affording excellent views 
through the scope. Two snipe flew around over the marsh, and singing 
Swamp Sparrows allowed comparison to Song Sparrows in the cattails, 
three-square and /spartina/.

A few of us extended our walk to the pond on the far side of Heron 
Point, beyond the garden area. On the way there, we observed a 
White-crowned Sparrow along a driveway, Yellow-rumped Warblers and an 
Ovenbird in the woods, and Green Heron and Belted Kingfisher at the 
pond. We completed the walk with 55 total species, not bad at all for a 
morning walk.

Good birding,

Walter Ellison & Nancy Martin

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620
410-778-9568

Observing Nature is like unwrapping a big pile of presents every time 
you take a walk.