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Subject:

Wash., PG, & Calvert Counties; AA Yard Migrants

From:

Stan Arnold

Reply-To:

Stan Arnold

Date:

Sun, 6 May 2007 22:15:02 -0400

Hi Folks,

Elaine and I visited a few spots around the state to enjoy some of the
migrants coming through during this marvelous weekend.  We spent Saturday
morning at Antietam Battlefield in Wash. Co., focusing mostly on history,
but also recording the birds seen, and then this afternoon (Sun.) we visited
School House Pond (PG Co.), Smoky Rd. (Clvt Co.), and North Beach (Clvt
Co.).  Nothing exceptional, just lots of nice birds.  Highlights:

Antietam Nat. Battlefield, Wash. Co., Sat., 5 May:

Great Crested Flycatcher--a few locations
Warbling Vireo--very vocal at Burnside Bridge (BB)
Purple Martin--a few on Harper's Ferry Rd., south edge of Sharpsburg
Cliff Swallow--about a dozen taking mud from the embankments of Antietam
Creek, building nests under BB
Yellow Warbler--singing at BB parking area
Prairie Warbler--4 singing along the short road to BB
Chipping Sparrow--many
Field Sparrow--several
Grasshopper Sparrow--a few near Visitor Center (VC)
Vesper Sparrow--one heard at VC; another nearby perched on a cannon
Balt. Oriole--1 or 2 singing, BB
E. Meadowlark--2

C&O Canal (Wash Co.), off of Rte 34, across from Shepardstown WV, and down
the hill from the former C&O Canal Park HQ (which is the former home of
Henry Kyd Douglass, the youngest member of Stonewall Jackson's staff):

DC Cormorant--1 on river
Barred Owl--1 on WV side of river, responded to my calls
GC Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Cliff Swallow--about 50 nests on the east side of the James Rumsey Bridge,
many of them active
N. Parula
La. Waterthrush--1 calling on WV side of river
Balt. Oriole--2-3 singing

    Many thanks to Eliott Kirschbaum for posting on these locations and
helping me with some specifics.

Sun., 6 May, School House Pond, Upper Marlboro, PG Co.:

Trumpeter Swan #962, standing on sidewalk next to parking spots; I went
ahead and took a few photos--from 5 feet away
Bald Eagle--2 juv. flyovers
Am. Coot--1
Lesser Yellowlegs--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Solitary Sandpiper--2
Least Sandpiper--1
Laughing Gull--dozens of noisy flyovers
WE Vireo--1
NRW Swallow--1 among several Trees and Barns
Veery--1, well viewed in scope
Scarlet Tanager--1 singing
N. Parula--1 heard from parking area

WMA at end of Smoky Rd., Calvert Co., p.m.:

Barred Owl--1 responded to my calls
WE Vireo--2
BG Gnatcatcher--15 or more
Hermit Thrush--1
Wood Thrush--1
N. Parula--2
Blk-thr. Green Warbler--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1, digiscoped
Worm-eating Warbler--1
YB Chat--1
Summer Tanager--2; one a yellow-green female who picky-tucky-tucked
incessantly
Chipping Sparrow--2
Field Sparrow--1
White-throated Sparrow--5 to 10

North Beach mudflats, across from beach access, near AA Co. line, Calvert
Co.:

Semipal. Plover--2
Killdeer--1
Greater Yellowlegs--1
Least Sandpiper--54
Semipalmated Sandpiper--1
Forster's Tern--3

Back at home, we've recorded the following migrants coming through our
Ferndale (AA Co.) yard during the past week.  Those in caps are
first-of-the-year for the yard:

    Tue., 5/1
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON--pair flying over
Bald Eagle--1 adult, high flyer
RC Kinglet--1 (also 5/2 and 5/3)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER--male, seen by Elaine
AM. REDSTART--male, seen by Elaine
SCARLET TANAGER--pair, seen by Elaine

    Wed., 5/2
GREAT EGRET--1 flyover
Hermit Thrush--1
BLACKPOLL WARBLER--1 seen by Elaine (4 days later than last year)
OVENBIRD--1 seen by Elaine (yard bird #113)

    Thur., 5/3
WOOD THRUSH--singing during early a.m.
Black-and-white Warbler

    Fri., 5/4
Common Loon--flyover, early a.m.
Yellow-rumped Warbler--though daily, over 100 flew over this evening
Black-and-white Warbler--heard
Am. Redstart--heard
Baltimore Oriole--heard

    Sat., 5/5
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--heard, early a.m., and then well viewed on 5/6

    Sun., 5/6
BROWN THRASHER--very vocal all morning; digiscoped; this is our first Spring
record
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER--heard, a.m.

We have now tallied 77 species for the yard in 2007--exactly the same number
as this date last year.

It was just a terrific weekend to be outside.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie