Calvert Fall Count:
   
  Did my hiking first thing at Calvert Cliffs State Park,
   
  Had to find those Red-headed Woodpeckers  (3)
   
  I was happy to find Redstarts, Magnolia Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Black-throated Blue Warblers, and one singing Blackthroated Green
   
  Three species of thrush:  Wood, Veery and Gray-cheeked
   
  Rest of the morning
  road-birding:  Turner, Soller's Wharf, Solomons, Ranch Estates
   
  BEST BIRD:  Willow Flycatcher (whit!  whit!) at Cove Lake.
   
  Cove Point:  over 100 double-crested Cormorants, an assortment of gulls and terns
   
  Then tired, I wandered up to Battle Creek, where I had one of the best treats of my life. They have a set of ponds and waterfalls, carefully planted with shrubs, which can be viewed from a large glass window.  (There's a chair), 
   
  Jack Lewndes was on duty.  He told me the warblers came in sudden rushes, then left again, and so it was. At first I just counted chickadees and hummingbrds, until suddenly they were there. 
   
  Warblers bathed in the waterfall, and fed in the bushes.  A Black-and-white tried to chase away a Yellow-throated Warbler from a flat rock in the pond, and a group of Black-throated Greens fed on the ground, all in different plumages.  Blackthroated Blues found berries in the branches of a shrub 10 feet from the window, where Northern Parulas were also feeding.  Redstarts and yellowstarts fluttered at the ends of branches, and a Hooded Warbler came close.  I identified  Canada Warblers,Bay-breasted Warbler, and Cape Mays. I forgot to mention the Magnolia Warbler.  
   
  A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak also bathed in the stream and there were 3 species of Vireos:  Red-eyed, White-eyed and Yellow-throated.  
   
  This was luxury.  I recommend the experience highly!  
   
  sue hamilton
  calvert county
   
   
   

       
---------------------------------
Catch up on fall's hot new shows on Yahoo! TV.  Watch previews, get listings, and more!