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Subject:

Life Bird at North Tract (Warblers galore!)

From:

Laura Appelbaum

Reply-To:

Laura Appelbaum

Date:

Tue, 1 May 2007 17:48:14 -0400

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