Greetings,

Yesterday morning I ventured into the Stemmer's Run Natural Area in southern Cecil County... This area seems to be one big experiment to see how much phragmites can be grown in a given area...  Never-the-less, there were birds too. I found around 50 species which would have been higher if the tidal creek had held waterfowl (There was none save for a lone Pied-billed Grebe and some distant Geese [Canadas]).

Still, I was lucky to find some nice birds in the gravel clearings within the phrag stands. In one mixed group alone I had 1 Hermit Thrush, 15 PINE SISKINS, 2 Fox Sparrows, 1 A. Tree Sparrow, and 6 Swamp Sparrows among the more common Goldfinch, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Saprrow, Junco, Towhee, Bluebird, Robin, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Titmouse, and C. Chickadee.... it really was a diverse and large group of birds...

Other notables in the area were many BVs and TVs, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Harrier, 2 adult Bald Eagles, and 2 Kestrels...

Good Birding,
Chris Starling 
North East, MD