Hi Folks,

After a week in Texas, I decided to stay fairly close to home this weekend.  As the monsoons were ending, I began venturing out on Thursday after school; here are the highlights since:

Thur., 4/16 Oxbow Lake (AA Co)

PB Grebe--5
Am. Coot--3
Greater Yellowlegs--2
Caspian Tern--12
Purple Martin--5
Cliff Swallow--1 among 4 or 5 Trees
Yellow Palm Warbler--1

Friday, 4/17, Late morning visit to Lake Elkhorn (Ho Co):

AM. BITTERN--1 flushed from edge of Forebay Pond
Caspian Tern--2 over lake
Pine Siskin--3

Friday, 4/17, afternoon visit to Swan Creek (AA Co)

GW Teal--5
Snowy Egret--2
Little Blue Heron--2 adults
VIRGINIA RAIL--1; my ipod ran out of juice, so for grins I did some clapping, and dogone if this rail didn't respond!
Am. Coot--1
Rough-winged Swallow--17

Sat., 4/18 at dusk, I visited the wetlands at the BWI Amtrak station, AA Co. looking, unsuccessfully, for rails.  My consolation prize was being entertained by a family of four BARRED OWLs, with whom I cavorted for a good half hour.  What marvelous creatures.

Sun., 4/19, early, while driving I-695 westbound, near Wilkins Ave (exit 12) (Ba Co):  two BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONs flying east

Sun., 4/19, afternoon, along the Patapsco River at McKeldin (each species seen in both Howard and Carroll counties):

Gnatcatcher--15 or more
N. Parula--3
Black-throated Green--1
Yellow-throated Warbler--3

Liberty Trail, Balt. Co.--no warblers; five woodpecker speices and a pair of Barred Owls

    Back home in the yard (Ferndale, AA Co.) we've been deluged by new year birds since the rain quit on Thursday, and we've had almost the same numbers that Rick Sussman described for his yard in Carroll Co.  Friday (4/17) brought our first Ruby-crowned Kinglets (3--a yard high), N. Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and (Yellow) Palm Warbler--our first ever in the Spring.

    Saturday (4/18) brought nine flyover Common Loons, Kestrel, Chimney Swift, Hermit Thrush, and Brown Thrasher.  We were also surprised by two Siskins and a Purple Finch, which haven't graced our yard in well over a month.

    This morning (Sunday 4/19) we had our first House Wren and Towhee, and an early morning sky watch netted a single migrant, our first Spring PEREGRINE FALCON flying fairly high, northbound.

Hope you all are enjoying the season; it's difficult to find time to sit down and post.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)