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Subject:

Western Maryland--Evening Grosbeaks, Gambel's WCSP, GWF Geese (Long)

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:26:50 -0800

Hi Everyone,

I headed west with Jim Brighton early on Saturday morning. We met Mikey
Lutmerding at dawn at North Branch, and Mikey was kind enough to have the
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE waiting in the scope for us. The three of us
spent Saturday exploring western Allegany Co., joined in the afternoon by
Jo Anna Leachman. Jim, Mikey, and I did some Garrett Co. birding early on
Sunday, then we met up with J.B. Churchill for some more birding in
Allegany. Jim and I then birded east along the Potomac in Washington Co.,
through Antietam, and then into Frederick and Carroll. 

We were well-rewarded for our time in the cold. Best birds were GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in Allegany and Carroll, GAMBEL's WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW in Allegany, and best of all, 12 EVENING GROSBEAKs near New
Germany SP, Garrett Co. Full lists follow.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2008

Dawn at North Branch, Allegany Co. 
(with Jim Brighton and Mikey Lutmerding)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE--1; roosting with the Canadas
Canada Goose--120
Mallard--12
NORTHERN PINTAIL--2; flew by with flock of Mallards
RING-NECKED PHEASANT--1 heard
Great Blue Heron--1
Northern Harrier--2
Cooper's Hawk--1
Red-tailed Hawk--2
American Kestrel--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--3
Hairy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker--1
Blue Jay--4
American Crow--130
FISH CROW--1; pretty unusual here
Black-capped Chickadee--1
Tufted Titmouse--1
White-breasted Nuthatch--3
Carolina Wren--4
Winter Wren--1
American Robin--10
Northern Mockingbird--4
European Starling--60
American Tree Sparrow--18
Song Sparrow--48
Swamp Sparrow--6
White-throated Sparrow--2
GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--1 adult; Mikey got a diagnostic photo
Eastern White-crowned Sparrow--56
Dark-eyed Junco--1
Northern Cardinal--6
Red-winged Blackbird--30
American Goldfinch--8

Terminus, C&O Canal, Allegany Co.
(with Jim Brighton and Mikey Lutmerding)

Canada Goose--30
Mallard--12
Bufflehead--13
Hooded Merganser--3
Great Blue Heron--1
Cooper's Hawk--1
Rock Pigeon--45
American Crow--3
Song Sparrow--2
House Sparrow--5

Rocky Gap SP, Allegany Co. 
(with Jim Brighton and Mikey Lutmerding)

Ruddy Duck--32
Pied-billed Grebe--5
Bald Eagle--1
Red-tailed Hawk--2
Red-bellied Woodpecker--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker--1
Pileated Woodpecker--2
Blue Jay--3
American Crow--9
Common Raven--2
Black-capped Chickadee--3
White-breasted Nuthatch--4
Carolina Wren--2
Golden-crowned Kinglet--2
Eastern Bluebird--2
Northern Mockingbird--2
European Starling--10
Field Sparrow--1
Song Sparrow--9
White-throated Sparrow--4
Slate-colored Junco--22
American Goldfinch--4

Old Legislative Road, Allegany Co.
(with Jim Brighton and Mikey Lutmerding)
Mikey and J.B. had a Northern Shrike here on Friday, 1/18.

Red-tailed Hawk--1
Rock Pigeon--16
Barred Owl--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker--3
Blue Jay--1
American Crow--4
Common Raven--2
Golden-crowned Kinglet--2
American Robin--5
Northern Cardinal--1
EASTERN MEADOWLARK--1; unusual timing and location; identity confirmed by
call note

Checked back roads such as New School Road and Blank Road in the
northwestern part of the county. Nothing much of interest. Lots of tree
sparrows at the spring on New School Road.

Dusk at North Branch, Allegany Co. 
(with Jim Brighton, Mikey Lutmerding, and Jo Anna Leachman)

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE--1; flew in with the Canadas as we checked the
ponds
Canada Goose--150
American Black Duck--6 on the lower pond; Jim B's closeout
Mallard--12
Northern Harrier--1
Northern Mockingbird--1
European Starling--2000+; always an interesting performance at dusk
Song Sparrow--2
White-crowned Sparrow--5; singing at dusk
Brown-headed Cowbird--2
* No Short-eared Owls at dusk

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2008

Feeders near New Germany State Park, Garrett Co.
(with Jim Brighton and Mikey Lutmerding)

Downy Woodpecker--1
Black-capped Chickadee--3
Slate-colored Junco--2
American Goldfinch--5
EVENING GROSBEAK--12!
Distant photo:
http://www.billhubick.com/images2/evening_grosbeaks_ga_md_20080120.jpg

Grantsville--Dorsey Hotel Road, Garrett Co.
(with Jim Brighton, Mikey Lutmerding, and J.B. Churchill)

American Crow--5
Horned Lark--250; So promising for Snow Bunting or Lapland Longspur, but
no luck.

Checked western Allegany roads for field birds - nada; cold
Checked Rocky Gap SP - nada; cold
Jim Brighton and I headed east...

Little Pool, Washington Co.

Tundra Swan--7; my county closeout
American Black Duck--8
American Crow--2
Golden-crowned Kinglet--1
White-throated Sparrow--2
Dark-eyed Junco--1
Northern Cardinal--2

Big Pool and Fort Frederick SP, Washington Co.

Swan Goose--1; escapee hanging out with the Canada flock
Canada Goose--200
Gadwall--24
American Black Duck--2
Great Blue Heron--1
Bald Eagle--1
Killdeer--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Hairy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker--2
Blue Jay--1
American Crow--1
Carolina Chickadee--1
Tufted Titmouse--2
Carolina Wren--2
Eastern Bluebird--5
Northern Mockingbird--1
Myrtle Warbler--1
American Tree Sparrow--12
Field Sparrow--2
Song Sparrow--8
White-throated Sparrow--7
Slate-colored Junco--2

Dam #4 and vicinity, Washington Co.

Black Vulture--1
Red-tailed Hawk--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Pileated Woodpecker--1
American Crow--2
Horned Lark--30
Tufted Titmouse--1
Eastern Bluebird--2
American Robin--2
European Starling--5
Slate-colored Junco--8
Brown-headed Cowbird--2

Shaffer Road, Washington Co.

Canada Goose--30
Mourning Dove--6
Red-bellied Woodpecker--2
Downy Woodpecker--1
Blue Jay--1
American Crow--1
Carolina Chickadee--2
Tufted Titmouse--3
Northern Mockingbird--1
European Starling--3
White-throated Sparrow--10
Eastern White-crowned Sparrow--4
Dark-eyed Junco--25
Northern Cardinal--4
Purple Finch--1
House Finch--10
American Goldfinch--2
House Sparrow--1

Antietam National Battlefield, Washington Co.

Turkey Vulture--2
Red-tailed Hawk--1
Rock Pigeon--21
Mourning Dove--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--1
Downy Woodpecker--4
Northern Flicker--4
Blue Jay--3
American Crow--5
Tufted Titmouse--1
Brown Creeper--1
Eastern Bluebird--1
American Robin--230
Northern Mockingbird--2
European Starling--30
Myrtle Warbler--1
Field Sparrow--2
White-throated Sparrow--5
Eastern White-crowned Sparrow--2
Slate-colored Junco--75
Northern Cardinal--9
House Finch--2

Kershner's Pond, Frederick Co.

SNOW GOOSE--1
CACKLING GOOSE--1
Canada Goose--1800
Tundra Swan--19
Mallard--3
NORTHERN SHOVELER--5
REDHEAD--1
Ring-necked Duck--35
Bufflehead--5
Common Merganser--4
Ruddy Duck--15
Great Blue Heron--1
Northern Cardinal--1

Piney Run Lake, Carroll Co.

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE--1 heard clearly when most of the Canada Geese
flushed from the west end of the lake, but we didn't visually pick it/them
out of the huge flock when the flock quickly passed over us.
Canada Goose--2000
Tundra Swan--3
Gadwall--1
American Black Duck--12
Mallard--4
Bufflehead--23
Hooded Merganser--17
Ruddy Duck--27
Pied-billed Grebe--8
Red-tailed Hawk--1
Mourning Dove--1
Hairy Woodpecker--1
White-throated Sparrow--1

Keysville Road, Carroll Co.
Matt Hafner told us about Jim Wilkinson's SEOWs in NW Carroll, so we
decided to end our day there. We ran into Mark Hoffman and enjoyed a nice
dusk Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl show. Nice find, Jim--thanks!

Northern Harrier--4
American Kestrel--1
Mourning Dove--6
SHORT-EARED OWL--2
Northern Mockingbird--1
Song Sparrow--1
Northern Cardinal--2

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

www.billhubick.com