Hi Folks,
With schools closed today for the primary elections, Elaine and I decided to
head to Calvert County to take a stab at the Evening Grosbeak that has been
showing up at the feeder at the Battle Creek Nature Preserve Visitor Center.
We weren't disappointed, as the female bird showed up at 8:45 this morning,
giving us a fairly extended view of this life bird for Elaine.
We had a very nice conversation with the senior naturalist on the staff,
Andy Brown, who told us that the female had been seen several times
yesterday, but it was the male that was first seen on Sunday by the weekend
staff. To others who would like to see the bird, Andy said that though the
visitor center doesn't open till 10 a.m., there is usually someone there to
open up around 8:30, and that they will let you inside once they open up.
All viewers are encouraged to view the feeder birds from inside, as they may
not come to the feeder with any people nearby. There are no programs going
on till next month, so there is not much human activity to disturb the birds
right now. From inside, the view of the feeder is quite spectacular,
through a roughly 8ft by 8ft picture window, with a bench to sit and enjoy
the activity (and plenty of warmth--greatly appreciated this morning).
Birds viewed around the feeder during our visit:
Mourning Dove--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--1 female
Downy Woodpecker--1
N. Flicker--1
Am. Crow--1 heard
Car. Chickadee--2 or 3
Tufted Titmouse--2 or 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch--2, perhaps a "pair" as in our yard (one
dark-breasted, the other paler)
Car. Wren--1 or more
Hermit Thrush--1 came to the ledge of the window
N. Mockingbird--1
Song Sparrow--1 or more
White-throated Sparrow--maybe 10
N. Cardinal--4 or 5
House Finch--4 or 5
Purple Finch--at least 5 (2m 3f)
Am. Goldfinch--1
Evening Grosbeak--1 female
To get to Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Preserve, from Rte 4 (the main highway
through Prince Frederick) turn west on Hwy 506, go a mile or two, turn left
on Gray Rd., and the entrance will be a 1/4 mile or so on the right. There
are signs from Rte 4.
After visiting Cypress Swamp, we motored over to Governor's Run Rd. to look
for the interesting grebe. Only birds seen were an Oldsquaw, a few
Buffleheads, and a hundred or so Ring-billed Gulls. If one visits, parking
must be done along the road, several hundred feet from the road end. There
are posted signs covering most of the beach, so viewing should be done from
the road.
Many many thanks to Andy Brown and the very accomodating staff at Cypress
Swamp, and to Tyler Bell and George Jett for posting about this Evening
Grosbeak.
Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie
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