Hello all,

After the rather large storm front passed over Annapolis this
afternoon, I decided to take the kayak out on the Severn.  The boats
had left due to the recent weather and I had the river almost entirely
to myself.

There was a lot of activity,  and here were some highlights:

-A Great Blue Heron juvenile was attempting to either capture or
harass some Mallards (Mom and Juveniles).
-A stunning look at a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. I quietly rowed right
under it on my kayak and it only flew to the next branch.
-My family of HOUSE WRENS and one female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
were seen and heard at my home in West Annapolis.
-The PEREGRINE FALCONS were screaming up a storm this evening.  Male
and Female hanging around the nest box, enjoying the evening sunset.

Location:     Severn River, MD
Observation date:     7/27/08

Mallard     12
Double-crested Cormorant     1
Great Blue Heron     7
Green Heron     3
Black-crowned Night-Heron     1
Turkey Vulture     1
Osprey     11
Peregrine Falcon     2
Laughing Gull     3
Ring-billed Gull     1
Herring Gull     2
Mourning Dove     2
Chimney Swift     9
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1  (Recently, she has been seen twice
driving away other hummers that were attempting a visit.)
Belted Kingfisher     3 (Possibly 4, but too far off to confirm.)
Northern Flicker     1
Eastern Kingbird     1
Blue Jay     2
American Crow     2
Fish Crow     3
Purple Martin     4 (Possibly more getting some dinner high above.)
Barn Swallow     54 (They were everywhere. 35 on Weems.  A few more
out on the river.  Dozens on a creek just West of the bridge.)
Carolina Chickadee     5
Carolina Wren     4
House Wren     5 (2 adults, at least three little chicks about to
fledge in the box.)
Wood Thrush     2 (Singing in one of the wooded areas back in one of
the creeks.)
American Robin     3
Gray Catbird     1
Northern Mockingbird     2
Song Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal     8
Red-winged Blackbird     4
Common Grackle     4
Common Grackle (Purple)     1 (Only one that shimmered some color
while flying past.)
House Finch     5
American Goldfinch     9
House Sparrow     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Finally, while approaching the boat ramp of West Annapolis, I spotted
a little fox on the West Annapolis shoreline (lurking in that invasive
grass we see everywhere nowadays).  I rowed a little closer for a
better look.  Being that I had a dead horseshoe crab on the bow of my
boat, the fox came closer to the shore and was quite curious (probably
with the smell).  I'm no expert, but from a brief bit of research
online, I am confident in identifying this little mammal as a GRAY
FOX.

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD