From 12:15PM to about 6:00PM, I birded three of the better areas in Upper
Marlboro with Mike and Tom Ostrowski. 

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary highlights (12:15-2:30):

Purple Martin
Chipping Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow - Thanks to Stan Arnold's post, we were able to quickly
locate two Grasshopper Sparrows on the gravel road near the red barn. The
first was not trying to hide at all, singing from atop a small sign post. I
spotted a third further up the exit road, perched on the fence. 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Hooded Warbler
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Grosbeak

Jug Bay highlights (3-4:15):

Osprey - observed an adult catch and handover a fish to three immatures on
the platform just to the right of the docks, near the canoe rentals.

Forster's Tern - At least 6 individuals, probably more. Roughly half were
still in breeding plumage. First seen flying past the docks near the Osprey,
but better viewed by walking down the trail that begins on the bottom of the
hill, just prior to the parking area. Though they haven't come close to
repairing the blind and walkway, the end of the trail provides a clear view
of wooden posts where the terns made themselves very accessible to the
spotting scope.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Summer Tanager - a single male singing at the entrance way to the trail
described above.


School House Pond highlights (4:40-5:30) (no Least Terns):

Tagged Trumpeter Swan
Red-eyed Vireo
Acadian Flycatcher
Yellow-billed Cuckoo



Robert Ostrowski

Greenbelt, MD