After my class on Friday morning I drove down to Schoolhouse Pond 
in Upper Marlboro, arriving about 10:45.  It was very birdy for late 
morning - you could say that I came for the shore birds (as reported 
by Fred on Thursday) but stayed for the warblers!

HIghlights (from the north side of the pond) included:

Least Sandpiper - many
Spotted Sandpiper - at least one
Barn Swallow 
Tree Swallow 
Alder Flycatcher (FOY)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - several
Brown Thrasher - singing
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo - extremely vocal
Blue-winged Warbler (FOY) - very well seen
Northern Parula - heard only
Yellow-rumped Warbler - many (of course)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - heard, a quick glimpse
Hooded Warbler (FOY) - heard only
Common Yellowthroat (FOY) - well seen, surprisingly silent

I got the best look at the Blue-winged Warbler that I've gotten in 
many years (he was a friendly little fellow, practically hanging in 
front of my face as he foraged in trees hanging over the path).  
What threw me off, at first, was that he was singing the 
"alternate song" over and over - a high-pitched, wren-like trill 
that Sibley describes as "tsi tsi tsi tsi zweeeeeeee zt zt zt zt."  
I don't think I've ever heard this song before (at least I never 
associated it with a Blue-wing) and don't remember seeing it 
mentioned in any of the editions of Peterson that I've ever used.  
One of the many things that I love about birding is that there is 
ALWAYS something new to learn!

Back at home, I heard a single White-throated Sparrow sing in the 
backyard - after a full week of not hearing or seeing any in the 
neighborhood.

Have a great birding weekend!


Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)



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