Hi Folks,

This weekend has been THE migration weekend at our Ferndale yard (AA Co.).  A total of 46 species was tallied on Sat., an all time yard high, buoyed mostly by raptors and warblers.  Additional migrants today brought the weekend total to 51.  Highlights on Sat. (4/26) included OSPREY (2), juv. BALD EAGLE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and BROAD-WINGED HAWK; YELLOW WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (6), BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, and the yard's first ever PRAIRIE WARBLER.  Also seen were first of year BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and PURPLE MARTIN, but probably the best bird for our suburban yard was a flyover BELTED KINGFISHER, which we ticked two years ago as a heard-only, but this one went right over the house. Must have been on its way from Marley Creek up to the Patapsco River area.  A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH dropped in; it's been a week since our regulars departed.

Today's chilly overcast weather shut out the raptors, but there were still some nice birds.  An early morning flight of six loons included a small, sleek loon among five larger Common Loons.  This bird had no noticeable feet like the commons, and was generally pale underneath from neck to tail--our yard's first RED-THROATED LOON, still in basic plumage.  Several of yesterday's warblers repeated again today, but new was OVENBIRD, two of them very vocal much of the day, and a resplendent BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, a bird that's been missing from our yard for several years.

This weekend has highlighted a marvelous year for migrants.  Last year we ended April with 66 species on the yard year list.  This year we now stand at 79 species, with the month not yet over.  What a difference a year can make.

Enjoy the cool days ahead.  The heat of summer will be here all too soon.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)