I was able to wander the grounds of the Brookside Nature Center
(adjacent to the gardens, in Wheaton) for a couple of hours on Friday.
I heard and saw LOTS of birds.  Many families of Ovenbirds (with only
one Cowbird baby that I saw), also families of Acadian Flycatchers,
Red-eyed Vireos, Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees.  Many singing
Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrushes as well (though I saw no babies of
either).  I credit this abundance of birds to the deer control program
that I believe was instituted a couple of years ago (as I recall, they
brought in sharpshooters at night).  In any event, there is a rich and
dense understory, something you don't see much of in Montgomery County.

   Notably, I saw a single Brown Creeper, and heard a Veery.

   I also heard a strange call.  I could not locate the bird.  The sound
was a descending, loud 'Breeer'.  It was repeated many times, with no
other sound associated with the hidden bird. The closest comparison I
could find (from Doug Van Gausig's Nature Songs website,
http://www.naturesongs.com <http://www.naturesongs.com/> ) was Western
Wood-Pewee.  Any ideas?  My backup ID is Tufted Titmouse, since at one
time or another I have heard them make almost any sound imaginable
(including a growl like a tiny bobcat).

 

Jim

 

Jim Felley

Smithsonian Institution