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. |