Hi all,
  Our bi-monthly bird walk at Blue Mash for the Backyard Naturalist  was 
attended by 9 individuals, in rather windy and cold conditions. We saw only  small 
numbers of birds on the ground or in the bushes, but we were all  surprised 
at the high numbers of birds in the air, everything from large flocks  of 
robins and cedar waxwings, to mixed flock of blackbirds, Canada Geese, ducks,  Blue 
Jays, and vultures. It seemed there were more than normal numbers of birds  
in the air yesterday, as well as a pair of Navy or Air Force fighter jets  
practicing their re-fueling techniques in the air space above.
 
Highlights, such as they were, included Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks,  
Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harrier, a single falcon sp.  
flying by in silhouette, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, lots of vultures, a  
beautiful pair of Pileated Woodpeckers working a snag very close to the trail  (in 
perfect light) and a grumpy and protective Great Blue Heron guarding "his"  
pond from another Great Blue intruder. My guess is that the fishing in the pond  
is rather sparse since the drought, since many of the fish died off.
 
Also I added a new bird to my Blue Mash list, American Pipit, which flew by  
over the leachate pond and called in flight. I was the only one to hear it  
however. 45 species in total, not including the pipit and falcon sp.
 
Our next walk is Sunday, November 18, when we will be going to Black  Hill 
Regional Park for waterfowl.
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine, _MD_ (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 




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