Hi Tom, and all,
I led my 2nd of the month field trip at Blue Mash today for The Backyard  
Naturalist of Olney. We arrived somewhat later than Tom, (maybe 8:15 or so by  
the time we got to the first part of the trail), but we also heard then saw the  
Black-billed Cuckoo along the main road towards the landfill. Stephanie 
Lovell  played a recording which the bird responded to almost immediately, flying 
in to  perch and look at us, calling from the trees.  This was also a new bird 
for  me here (#174).
 
Other birds of note were 2 male Orchard Orioles, a single Bank Swallow  
(another new bird for me here today, #175) flying over the small pond with  Tree 
and Barn Swallows, White-eyed Vireos, Yellow Warblers galore, a beautiful  male 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak calling from the top of a small tree across Zion Rd,  
then flying into the park, a female Indigo Bunting (but no male), gnatcatchers  
and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Chimney Swifts, myrtle warblers, White-throated 
and  Song Sparrows, and a single Cooper's Hawk. Also 3 Gray Catbirds (2 seen & 1 
 heard), and Brown Thrashers, and Common Yellowthroats.
 
We dipped on the Chat, Rusty Blackbird and a Black& White Warbler seen  by 
others.
 
We tallied 47 species, with 5 participants.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD




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