Great weather for birding: from 1015 to1415, mostly light overcast with occasional
burst of sunshine. It seemed many of the birds were heard only (*), but with my
trusty SongFinder at the ready I was equal to the challenge! Without my "buddy",
I'd walk in cathedral silence; with it, the air resonated with birdsong. The avian
highlight was a mature Bald Eagle (later, in flight, it lacked several primaries on both
sides). About 3/4ths thru the walk, I spotted a Wood Duck chick swimming in
quick, darting directions; then saw what at 1st I assumed was a muskrat chasing
it in the water of the Jones Falls, only to quickly realize it was a small, black Mink!
The duckling successfully eluded its rapacious predator and joined 4 others on the
side of the stream before they proceeded upstream (no adult in sight).

It seemed all the birds were enjoying a temporary break between hectic breeding
cycles. A lone Canada Goose enjoyed the company of an indolent Great Blue
Heron, until a meandering Great Egret came too close and Big Blue quickly ran it
off and rejoined the Canada. A pair of Mallard were goofing off, taking a snooze
on a mudflat. Later, another Mallard hen took up a defensive posture and seemed
to "hiss" at another Great Blue when it wandered too close to her 7 young cluster-
ed about her. A complete list follows (50 spp.):

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Bald Eagle
Killdeer*
Spotted Sandpiper
Mourning Dove*
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker*
Eastern Wood-Pewee*
Acadian Flycatcher*
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe*
Great Crested Flycatcher*
Yellow-throated Vireo*
Warbling Vireo*
Red-eyed Vireo*
Fish Crow*
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee*
Tufted Titmouse*
Carolina Wren*
House Wren*
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Wood Thrush*
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher - Probable; brief look
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula*
Yellow Warbler
Scarlet Tanager*
Eastern Towhee*
Chipping Sparrow*
Song Sparrow*
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch*
House Sparrow

Paul Noell
Balto, MD