Yesterday's monthly bird walk in Patterson Park, Baltimore produced some real treats for the local residents who make up most of the regular attendees. Among passerine migrants were Brown Thrasher and a couple of Field Sparrows as well as good numbers of eastern phoebes which have been around for 2 weeks now.  The female merlin that has been present since New Year came and perched just 20 yards from the group, giving great views. Bird of the day was an immature goshawk, which also gave good views perching and flying between trees. This may have been the same bird that Keith Costley reported last week.

Finally, we enjoyed our first Caspian tern of the year, flying around the lake. Up to 4 appear at this time every year and remain for a week or so, presumably alternating between the park and Baltimore harbour.  The lesser scaup is still present and the male wood duck who returned 2 weks ago is in need of a girlfriend - he's getting far too attached to one of the resident female mallards!  The species list below does not include some of the omnipresent resident birds.

Canada Goose    3
Lesser Scaup    1
American Coot   1
Northern Goshawk        1
Merlin  1
American Kestrel        1
Turkey Vulture          10
Caspian Tern    1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker        2
Northern Flicker        3
Downy Woodpecker        1
Eastern Phoebe  8
Fish Crow       5
American Robin  30
Brown Thrasher  1
Field Sparrow   2
Chipping Sparrow        2
Song Sparrow    15
Dark-eyed Junco 5
Brown-headed Cowbird    4
Red-winged Blackbird    3
American Goldfinch      1

Dave


David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: