Hi Folks,

After spending the weekend in southern Maryland, Elaine and I returned via Hughes Rd. in Montgomery Co., and spent between 1 and 2 p.m. today (Mon., 3 Sep) searching for the Say's Phoebe.  Nada.  We met STeve Sanford, Paul Noell, Lou DeMouy, Bob Augustine, Barry Martz, and Wade Stephen, all of whom, like us, had reasons for not being there yesterday.

While we missed the phoebe, we had a fantastic weekend.  Want to thank Tyler Bell who provided oodles of detailed info on St. Mary's birds, and to Kyle Rambo who also did the same, but focusing on the Patuxent River NAS, where we did a lot of our birding.

Here's a rundown on our sightings:

Sat., 1 Sep:

    School House Pond, PG Co.:

Trumpeter Swan #962
Blue-winged Teal--1
Red-shouldered Hawk--1 very vocal and visible
Pileated Woodpecker--1

    Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, PG Co.:

Great Egret--1
Barred Owl--1, responded to my calls
Hummingbird--5 or more, at visitor's center and trumpet vine in woods
White-eyed Vireo--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
Common Yellowthroat--pair
Summer Tanager--2

    Benedict (town piers), Charles Co.:

Mute Swan--2
Royal Tern--3

    Allen's Fresh, Chas. Co.:

Bald Eagle--1
John Hubbel--1, going the other direction; he found only a few more warblers than we did this morning, and was on his way home

    Morgantown, Chas. Co.:

Forster's Tern--150+
Royal Tern--20+
SANDWICH TERN--1 (will get some photos out to get verification on this bird; George Jett took too long getting his flooring project put away, and missed the bird by 5 minutes; if verified this should be a first county record)

    Beauview Ponds, St. Mary's Co.--high water (no shorebird habitat)

    Pax River NAS at dusk:
Common Nighthawk--2

Sunday, 2 Sep:

    Pax River NAS, St. Mary's Co. (not accessible to general public, except for publicized bird walks):

Great Egret--1, Harper's Creek
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON--1 imm easily viewed from car at mouth of Goose Creek; probably same bird seen by Bill Hubick et al two weeks ago
Greater Yellowlegs--1, pond along Shaw Rd. near STandley Rd.
Caspian Tern--2 on mud flat in Goose Creek
Royal Tern--6, Goose Creek pier
Forster's Tern--100+, Goose Creek pier
BLACK TERN--1 sitting on buoy near Goose Creek pier
YB Cuckoo--1, Shaw Rd. near Gate 3

E. Screech Owl--1, Shaw Rd., near Gate 3
Pileated Woodpecker--1, Pepperbush Trail
Acadian Flycatcher--4, Pepperbush Trail
White-eyed Vireo--10 or more; next to Carolina Wren, the most vocal bird on base
House Wren--1, Shaw Rd., near Gate 3
Pine Warbler--2
Black-and-white Warbler--1, Pepperbush Trail
Ovenbird--1,   "
Summer Tanager--1, "

    In the late afternoon, we attemted to visit Point Lookout state Park, but it was packed, and cars were being turned away.  We picked up Red-breasted Nuthatch in Tyler Bell's neighborhood, and searched fruitlessly for nightjars around the regional airport.

Monday, 3 Sep

    Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary's Co.

We arrived at 6:30 a.m., and went straight to the point to look for the Lark Sparrow and YB Flycatcher reported by Todd Day.  We dipped on these birds, but found something better--Jim Stasz standing at the edge of the pond at the point (now very dry with good mud flats).  The first bird he showed us was a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, complete with an explanation of why it was a Long-bill and not a short-bill.  This was worth the trip to So. MD in itself (and by the way this was also a county bird for Jim).  Other shorebirds at the pond:

Spotted Sandpiper--1 (second visit to pond)
Least Sandpiper--12 or more
WESTERN SANDPIPER--2 pale gray individuals

    Jim also had Semipal. Sandpiper and Seaside Sparrow before we got there

For the next two hours we accompanied Jim for a walk around the point and picnic area, and had the following birds:

Brown Pelican--surprisingly just 2
RUDDY TURNSTONE--3 flyovers
LEAST FLYCATCHER--1
GC Flycatcher--2
WE Vireo--5
RE Vireo--2
RB Nuthatch--1
House Wren--1
Veery--1 or more (thrush alley)
Brown Thrasher--2
Black-throated Blue Warbler--1
Am. Redstart--5
Black-and-white Warbler--3
Pine Warbler--2
Canada Warbler--1
Blue Grosbeak--2
BALTIMORE ORIOLE (the stealth bird of St. Mary's)--pair

    When we parted company with Stasz, I wanted to check the point one more time, and enroute there ran into Patty Craig.  She mentioned there had been some good birds at the Elms, so we headed that way upon leaving Pt. Lookout.  When we arrived at the Elms Environmental Park, we happened to once again chance upon John Hubbell who was getting ready to leave.  He about-faced and accompanied us down to the pond there, and we saw:

Snowy Egret--1
Semi Plover--6
Killdeer--2
Greater Yellowlegs--1
WILLET--1
Least Sandpiper--2
Short-billed Dowitcher--3

    It was a highly satisfying weekend, with great weather and a fairly relaxed pace.  Despite missing the Say's Phoebe, I was able to pick up 14 county birds in St. Mary's, which was already one of my better counties.  What a great place to spend time.

Best to all,

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie