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C&O

From:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Reply-To:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Date:

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 14:36:52 -0400

Somehow it dawned on me this AM that I had not actually seen a Prothonotary
Warbler yet this year. Heard one at Jug Bay but the silly thing successfully
kept out of sight while I searched longingly thru the bins for it.
    So with that in mind I headed for the nearest Prothonotary Hot Spot and
hoped that they would cooperate. I needed my fix.
    I drove deliberately down Ballenger Creek Rd hoping to find this now
famous spot with Dickcissels on one side and Alder FC on the other. I think
it's supposed to be just south of Mountville Rd. Correct? If so, they were
quiet, but I didn't stay long. Just for the record, is there a some sort of
a swamp back in the trees there? Otherwise what is an Alder doing there, or
did somebody misidentify its cousin the Willow?
    So I walked the C&O down at Point of Rocks. Plenty of Acadians out today
and yes, I caught a couple of them doing the flutter call. Also Northern
Parula, Great Crested FC and a Pileator doing the usual Pileation. (that
means making a lot of racket)
    Prothonotary # 1 was way back off the trail so I didn't even bother.
Number 2 was closer, but searching came up empty. I was thinking of turning
around after about an hour going north when I heard one more up ahead and
continued.
    Prothonotary # 3 was just right. (Does this story have a Goldilocks ring
to it?) I saw it down on a log in the canal (or what used to be a canal)
beating the life out of some hapless caterpillar that it had caught. Then I
realized that it had company. Yes, the kids showed up hoping Daddy would
share. These fledglings looked like they were just about old enough to do
their own hunting and apparently Pops agreed. And gulped the worm down
himself. So I got a bonus- a family group.
    Folks, nobody should let a year go by without a good look at a
Prothonotary Warbler. Ain't good for the soul.
    Now y'all get out there and look. There's at least one around somewhere
for you.

    Jerry Tarbell
     All fixed up in Carroll County