Hi Bob et al:

Interesting comment to me on your 1st entry - Yellow-billed Cuckoo - re
where I live, which is not that far from Carroll County.

I live in Adams County, PA just over the line from Emmitsburg and often go
down MD 140 to Westminster to shop. I moved here in April of 2003 and until
this year only remember having this bird two times. Both were at elevation
(in the same Atlas Block). But I was not birding much in many places at the
time.

This year I have been getting them everywhere since the spring movement or
at least almost every time I have been out of the house, not just when
birding. At first, I was thinking they had a good year last year (lots of
Gypsy Moths and Tent Caterpillars where I had the two cited above) and that
they were simply passage migrants, but I am still hearing them around. Had
one yesterday off my porch. No trees here so it was a ways off. Total
opposite of your experience based on the "scarce this year" remark.

I do not post to the MD list.serv very often so I might also mention that I
saw 2 Collared Doves on a wire just outside of Taneytown a couple of weeks
ago coming back from BWI. They were on the West side of town.

They have taken up residence in Shady Grove, Franklin County (next county
over where Chambersburg is), hanging out on a store/market and local
telephone wires.  I had 3 flybys in tight formation on a State Gamelands
here along a power line on My 24th.

So you might keep an eye out for them. Plenty on the coast / Worcester
County, but do not remember many this close.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Adams County, PA


On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 6:39 AM, Bob Ringler <> wrote:

>   Yesterday morning there was a Ring-billed Gull flying around a
> supermarket parking lot in Eldersburg. This is the first I have seen here in
> about two months so is probably an early fall migrant.
>
>   A brief walk at McKeldin Area of Patapsco Valley SP had these notable
> birds:
>
> Yellow-billed Cuckoo  1, heard only, very scarce this summer
> RT Hummingbird  1, heard only, also scarce, none have visited my backyard
> feeder this summer
> Pewee  3, heard only
> Acadian Flycatcher  6, seems to be a very good year for them
> Yellow-throated Vireo  2, heard only
> Red-eyed Vireo  7
> Parula  3, heard only
> Worm-eating Warbler  3, probably with fledged young
> Ovenbird  4, probably with fledged young
> Louisiana Waterthrush  3, including fledged young
> Chipping Sparrow  5, including one streaked juvenile
>
> --
> Bob Ringler
> Eldersburg MD
> 
>