No matter where I went today the birding gods smiled down:
Blue Mash Nature Trail, 0730-0945:
At 0745, I had great looks at the two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS. The birds
were sitting side by side 8 feet above the ground and not more than 25 feet
away in the stand of trees adjacent to the parking area. Other migrants of
note included: Great-crested Flycatcher-1 (FOY); White-eyed Vireo-3 (1
seen/2 heard); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-2 (1 constructing a nest); Wood
Thrush-2 (heard only); Gray Catbird (ubiquitous); Yellow Warbler-10; Black-
throated Blue Warbler-2 (1m/1f /FOY); Prairie Warbler-1 (along the landfill
entrance road); American Redstart-1 (m); Ovenbird-1; Common Yellowthroat-
8; Yellow-breasted Chat-2 (1 seen/1 heard); Indigo Bunting-2 (FOY); and
Orchard Oriole-3.
Backyard Deck, approx 1300:
While eating lunch, imagine my surprise when I heard an unfamiliar squawking
sound and looked up and found a MONK PARAKEET at one of the feeders (new
backyard, county & state bird). The parakeet continued at the feeder
througout the afternoon.
Tridelphia Reservoir, Brighton Dam, 1430-1530:
After viewing the blooms at the Brighton Dam the azalea garden, my wife and
I took our dog for a walk along the Patuxent River below the dam. I found the
following 4 warblers in a thicket along the water's edge just downstream from
the dam: Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat &
MOURNING WARBLER (a lifer!).
I wonder what the evening might bring?
Tom Marko
Olney, MD
Montgomery Bird Club
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