Hi Everyone,

Carol and I enjoyed a full windy day, and by keeping a tight schedule managed to bird in 5 counties.  We even added a few incidental ticks in 2 additional counties (a Turkey Vulture as we passed briefly through Howard County and a couple species--including Bonaparte's Gulls--on the Cecil County side of Conowingo Dam).  We continue to benefit from the helpful suggestions of MDOsprey members, and are increasingly impressed with the great birding opportunities here in MD.  Many thanks to Jim Brighton, Bill Ellis, Kevin Graff, Matt Hafner, Bill Hubick, and John Hubbell  for input on today's locations.

HARFORD COUNTY

We started just after light at Lapidum Landing on the Susquehanna in Harford County. Tree Swallows were streaming steadily upriver; it would have been interesting to stick around for a full count; we counted 100 in just a few minutes.

BALTIMORE COUNTY

Loch Raven Reservoir had diverse waterfowl (11 species), Horned Grebes (6) and Pied-billed Grebes (7), and a Common Loon in nearly full breeding plumage.  Eight Redheads were feeding below the dam, accompanied by 2 American Wigeons.  A Pine Warbler was near the feeders at Cromwell Valley Park.

CARROLL COUNTY

Nice waterfowl at Piney Run, including 10 Common Mergansers--one of our favorite duck species.  A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Yellow-rumped Warbler were in the woods near the parking lot at the Nature Center.  Both the warbler and the sapsucker were visiting sapsucker "wells" on the same tree trunk.  The warbler was using a hover-gleaning approach.

FREDERICK COUNTY

Our first visit to Lilypons--wow!  What a great place!  Plenty of trails, woods, and water, and great birds.  Some highlights:

Wood Duck--6
Gadwall--3
Blue-winged Teal--1 male
Hooded Merganser--2
Common Loon--2
Wilson's Snipe--1
Tree Swallow--5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--2
Fox Sparrow--5

WASHINGTON COUNTY

We birded in the vicinity of Big Pool at Fort Frederick State Park from about 6:15-7:30 pm.  We focused mainly on the concentration of waterfowl at the far end of Big Pool.  By walking down the C&O trail, we got close enough to scope the distant ducks.  Quite a variety: a dozen species!

Wood Duck--2
Gadwall--2
American Wigeon--3
American Black Duck--8
Mallard--4
Green-winged Teal--20
Ring-necked Duck--70
Lesser Scaup--4
Bufflehead--10
Hooded Merganser--4
Common Merganser--12
Ruddy Duck--4

And these were just the ducks we could see.  Others were mostly hidden, and we didn't have enough time before dark to walk further down the trail to get different views.

We're in Cumberland tonight, ready tomorrow for Garrett, Allegany, and points east.

FUN and GAMES

Worcester--76
Somerset--52
Wicomico--65
Dorchester--69
Talbot--59
Caroline--46
Queen Annes--41
Anne Arundel--51
Kent--38
Cecil--35 (added 4 today)
Harford--40
Baltimore--46
Carroll--33
Howard--1 (so far, we'll be back...)
Frederick--36
Washington--30

Total Species so far: 123 (3 species added today: Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, Northern Rough-winged Swallow)

Total Ticks so far: 718

I'm down to 2 species (doh!) seen in all 15 counties so far this week.