I'm so glad this list exists so I can share my excitement right now! I
*just* came back from a quick (they close at 4 PM) after-work bike ride
over at the Patuxent Refuge North Tract a few minutes ago and there were
soooo many warblers singing their hearts out! Since I only had about
1-1/2 hours to ride (and this was primarily an exercise trip) I didn't
bring my binocs today, and I was flying along (so to speak) at 15 MPH
and thus mostly reduced to using my very paltry birding-by-ear skills,
which basically consist of hearing stuff, coming home, playing a bunch
of songs on the computer and saying "yes, definitely heard that. I
*think* I heard that one. Nope, not that," a bunch of times. On that
basis, I feel confident in saying that lurking in the woods today were
the following warblers:
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
But the best bird of all had to be a Life List pair of Chestnut-sided
Warblers who popped out right at the edge of the road as I approached on
my bike, then obligingly waited around, hopping from one low branch to
another and pausing to both sing and flaunt their Peterson Guide arrowed
field markings in such a manner that I could ID them naked eye (and
ear). I haven't been birding in a dedicated manner in 2 years or so
other than Xmas Count -- instead I've been mostly mountain bike riding
-- so this is my first Life List bird (#289) in almost three years!
Next ride I'll probably bring my binocs. And see nothing but Titmice
and Cardinals. ;D
Laura Appelbaum,
Cloverly, MD |