The Upper Marlboro Flaming County Seaters held the 3rd annual Schoolhouse Pond Big Sit yesterday (October 12) from dawn to dusk.  We totaled 64 species, down from last year's high of 66 and the 65 of 2 years ago.  Highlights included one Cackling Goose among the large number of early morning Canada Geese.  Other waterfowl included both the Trumpeter and Mute Swans, 9 Wood Ducks, 8 Northern Shovelers, and many Mallards.  

Warblers included Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warblers, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Nashville Warbler, and Chestnut-sided Warbler.  People were also treated to great views of a close Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  Sparrows included several Song Sparrows, the first White-throated Sparrows of the season, and two very cooperative Swamp Sparrows.  A female Eastern Towhee also made a brief appearance.  

Raptors included at least five Bald Eagles, 2 Osprey, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, and both vultures.  We also heard the resident Barred Owl hoot twice in the late afternoon.  

Other miscellaneous birds included all three mimics, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, a few late Chimney Swifts, several Double-crested Cormorants, House Sparrow, several Great Blue Herons, 2 Great Egrets, Carolina Wren, European Starling, American Crow, Fish Crow, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, American Goldfinch, House Finch,Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow, Killdeer, several vocal Eastern Phoebes, Blue Jays, 2 groups of Cedar Waxwings, several Belted Kingfishers, and flyover Laughing, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS