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Subject:

Liberty Reservoir Shorebirds, 9/16

From:

Joel Martin

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Date:

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:39:37 EDT

Thanks to great directions from Bob Ringler, I was able to enjoy some good  
shorebird action this morning on the Carroll County side of the lake near  
Finksburg. There was also some excitement both on the walk in and out. The  
shorebird flock was pretty much as Bob described it yesterday, but the molting  
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was on the Baltimore County side today, on a spit  littered 
with logs where it was often concealed. At this point I was almost  hoping 
for a hawk to come along and stir things up for a county two-fer, but no  luck. 
That's OK, I'll take it for Baltimore County bird #250.
 
Eventually I located what I believe to be the juvenile DUNLIN found  
yesterday by Bob. After many scans through the numerous PECTORALS I noticed one  that 
was very chunky, hunch-backed and less "attenuated", classic Dunlin  structure 
except that the bill seemed very small. Maybe this is due to its age.  It had 
the gray-brown hooded appearance with some streaking extending a bit onto  
the sides, and the legs were black. The upperparts were light-fringed. I've  
never seen this plumage at all but I don't know what else it could have  been.
 
On the walk in I encountered a nice pocket of migrants along a  powerline 
cut, including NASHVILLE (2), CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED  GREEN 
(3), PINE, and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was  calling 
nearby. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen and heard at numerous places  in the 
pine stands.
 
On the way out through the pines, screaming Blue Jays indicated there was  
some species-harrassment going on. The object of their attention was a  
young-looking GREAT HORNED OWL that was trying to shield itself in the crotch of  a 
pine tree, while chickadees, Pine Warblers and even Cedar Waxwings joined in  
the sport.
 
Another beautiful morning and some very nice birds.
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
 (mailto:[log in to unmask])  



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