----- Forwarded by Jane E Fallon/BRD/USGS/DOI on 03/03/2008 12:36 PM -----

 
03/03/2008 12:35 PM

To

cc

Subject
Com. Redpoll





I posting this for Peter Osenton who is not on the Osprey:

 
Since I am still not hooked up with the Md. Osprey, I'd appreciate you 
posting this.
 
Today I went over to Ft. Smallwood to chase the Common Redpolls that have 
been there.  This was my 2nd attempt for this county bird, and, since it 
was seen yesterday afternoon, I thought I'd try again, but, later in the 
day.  I arrived at the park at 3:30pm, and searched until 4:40 when I 
spotted one female Common Redpll perched in a Red Maple tree.  She was 
eating the buds off of this tree. 
 
Location:  Take the main road past the guard shed and go almost all the 
way to the "T". (The fort is about 100 feet beyond this spot in front of 
you).  The bird was located in the 2nd to the last Red Maple tree on the 
right before the "T" intersection.  I watched it from 4:40pm to 4:42pm, 
then, it flew to the left, over the road and landed in a crooked Virginia 
Pine.  I made a wide swath around this location as to not spook it, plus, 
the sun was a factor then.  I went around where the sun was at my back, 
but, I never saw the bird again.  There were 6 Dark-eyed Juncos and 2 
American Goldfinches on the ground, feeding on the seeds from the fallen 
Sweetgum pods.  The ground is covered with these pods.  This area is 
somewhat open, but, has scattered Va. Pine and Sweetgum.