Hi Everyone,

Jim Brighton and I met up early today (11/1) for a spin around promising western shore locations. You really just never know what these Eastern Shore types might still need for their western shore lists! We started at Indian Creek WMA near Benedict in Charles Co., and we soon had the pleasure of an unplanned meeting with Jim Stasz. After an enjoyable hike here, we parted ways with Stasz, worked north along the Patuxent, and eventually ended up at Blue Mash Nature Trail in Montgomery Co. Our most exciting finds were SHORT-EARED OWL, GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, and BROWN SNAKEs. Abridged lists and a couple fascinating natural history observations follow:

Indian Creek WMA, Charles Co.

Accipiter sp.--1
Herring Gull (American)--7
Belted Kingfisher--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--3
Eastern Bluebird--21
American Robin--1
Brown Thrasher--1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--1
Palm Warbler (Yellow)--5; my county closeout
Eastern Towhee--1
Chipping Sparrow--2
Field Sparrow--18
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--12
Song Sparrow--32
Swamp Sparrow--4
White-throated Sparrow--17
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)--3
Eastern Meadowlark--1; probable migrant; zrrt'ing persistently

Milltown Landing, PG Co.

Wood Duck--1

** SHORT-EARED OWL--1; flushed from a hedgerow; flew east and had nearly crossed the Patuxent when a Northern Harrier came out of nowhere to harass it. The owl disappeared behind the treetops to the northeast. (We almost pulled off the sick two-county tick.) Photos.
 
Northern Harrier--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--4
Eastern Phoebe--1; Jim B. only
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1
Eastern Bluebird--5
Hermit Thrush--1

** Northern Mockingbird--3; one Northern Mockingbird imitated Summer Tanager (where one was seen many times this year) as well as tripled Pine Siskin flight notes!

Brown Thrasher--1
American Pipit--2
Cedar Waxwing--13
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--2
Palm Warbler (Yellow)--3
Eastern Towhee--1
VESPER SPARROW--Jim B. only
((Jim Stasz CLOSED OUT Vesper Sparrow today at Maxwell Hall, Charles Co!))
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--30
Song Sparrow--20
Swamp Sparrow--4
White-throated Sparrow--12

** White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)--9; hedgerows. An adult and an immature were in close proximity to one another alternating singing; there was no aggression, in fact, both individuals were feeding and preening between songs. It really looked like singing lessons.

** GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--1; first of the season; diagnostic photos

Non-avian: Abundant Common Checkered Skippers (50+), some Common Buckeyes (~10), Orange Sulfurs (10-20), Cloudless Sulfurs (~5).

Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, Howard Co.

Non-avian: Jim found a BROWN SNAKE as it crossed the trail.

Triadelphia Reservoir at Greenbridge Rd, Montgomery/Howard Counties

American Wigeon--13
Northern Shoveler--3
Bufflehead--18
Pied-billed Grebe--3
Double-crested Cormorant--3
Ring-billed Gull--4
Belted Kingfisher--1

Blue Mash Nature Trail, Montgomery Co.

American Black Duck--4
Mallard--8
Green-winged Teal--43!
Cooper's Hawk--1
Red-tailed Hawk--1
Killdeer--16
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--1
Northern Flicker--8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--2
American Robin--25
Cedar Waxwing--17
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--3
Song Sparrow--6
Swamp Sparrow--1
White-throated Sparrow--3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)--2
Brown-headed Cowbird--1
Non-avian: BROWN SNAKE 
(two counties on November 1st; who would have thought?)

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com