After a quick visit to the Dr's office, hied over to R.E. Lee park for a generally
enjoyable walk from1010 to1310. Overcast skies made for a good effort, despite
humid conditions augmented by the occasional spit of rain, as temps remained
low, about 63 degrees to a maximum of 68. Notable by their absence: Night Herons, Canada Geese, Hawks/Vultures, Peeps, Acadian Flycatchers, Crows,
Gnatcatchers, Vireos, Warblers and RW B'birds. A full containment reduced the
mudflats to permanent ones now covered by vegetation. Serendipitous sightings
yielded: DC CORMORANT, G EGRET, YB CUCKOO, RT HUMMINGBIRD,
C FLICKER, GC FLYCATCHER, large no's of EW PEWEES, C WAXWINGS,
BALTO ORIOLE and HOUSE FINCH. A flurry of movement in nearby Willow
trees on the opposite side of the Jones Falls stream yielded a small, stub-tailed
wren which was probably the House Wren, as I've no recollection of Marsh or
Sedge Wren in that area. Also, a Sparrow briefly popped into view before being
chased away by a surprisingly aggressive GC Flycatcher. Because I didn't jizz
the rich patterning of a Swampie, I deduced it to be a Song. Following are the
surprisingly good no. of sightings/heards* of 33 spp. of birds:

DC CORMORANT--1
GB Heron--several
G Egret--1
Mallard~ 18
M Dove--4
YB CUCKOO*--2
C Swift--large no.
RT HUM'BIRD--1
B KINGFISHER--3; 1 at spillway, 2 coursing the Jones Falls
C FLICKER--2; first of the near-fall
PILEATED W'PKR*--2
RB W'pkr--1, distant perch
D W'pkr*--2
E. Kingbird~3, heard & seen
GC FLYCATCHER--1; first of the near-fall
E Phoebe--1
E Wood Pewee~10, heard and seen
RW SWALLOW--1
Barn Swallow~25, spread over area (prob. more)
Carolina Wren*--3
HOUSE WREN--1; see above remarks
Mockingbird--2
G Catbird~5, seen & heard
Robin~7, spread over area
CEDAR WAXWING*~7; no sightings, calls unmistakable
E Starling--1
BALTO ORIOLE--2 males; distant but good looks
N Cardinal~10; only 1 seen as they remained furtive
HOUSE FINCH--2; a distant but good look at a pair
A Goldfinch*~5
Song Sparrow--1; see above remarks

Paul Noell
Balto  MD