Hi Folks,

I made three trips to try for the Sedge Wren in Howard Co, unsuccessfully, 
but my consolation came this afternoon along the Middle Patuxent River at 
the end of Eden Brook Rd. (Gorman Area), where a SUMMER TANAGER 
picky-tucky-tucked for nearly five minutes.  It seemed to respond to Barred 
Owl calls that I was making, but it stayed high in the tree tops, and then 
stopped, and I couldn't get it to resume.  I did not have an ipod with me at 
the time.  This is a good bird in Howard Co., so I called a few folks who 
came out to look, but we could not refind the bird.  Though the bird was 
located in somewhat of an opening in the woods, not far from a utility 
right-of-way, the habitat is not quite what one would expect for Summer 
Tanager, and it was probably moving through.  Other notable birds found in 
this area were VEERY and HOODED WARBLER, and a pair of  Barred Owls 
eventually responded to all my noise.

Yesterday (Wed., 6 May) most of my students were taking AP exams, so I took 
the day off from school and spent the day birding around Anne Arundel 
County.  I didn't have any exceptional finds, but nevertheless a lot of nice 
birds.  Many thanks to Tyler Bell who took me around the Smithsonian 
Environmental Research Center (SERC) for a while.  The more notable finds 
were:

WILD TURKEY--a tom and two hens along Owensville Rd.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON--1 imm, Patapsco Pond #13
GREAT HORNED OWL--called several times midday at SERC
BARRED OWL--pair at BWI Amtrak wetlands; one at Glendening Park; one at 
Davidsonville Park
WARBLING VIREO--2 or more where they always are, at Patapsco Pond #10
MARSH WREN--2 or 3 at SERC
YELLOW WARBLER--only one, Davidsonville Park
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER--2 or 3 at SERC
WORM-EATING WARBLER--1 in ravine along Cliff Trail, Glendenning Park
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH--1 in wooded area along Sands Rd., just north of 
Wooten's Landing
KENTUCKY WARBLER--1 at SERC
SUMMER TANAGER--1 heard picky-tucking at Glendening Park; it was a female 
with nesting material
SAVANNAH SPARROW--1 at Davidsonville Park
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--1 handsome adult in Dan Haas' yard, Annapolis
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK--1 imm male still at our Ferndale feeders for the 8th 
day
BLUE GROSBEAK--only 2, both females at Davidsonville Park
BOBOLINK--90 estimated, but possibly scores more, in overgrown field on west 
side of Mt Zion Church, Bayard Rd. (thanks to Kathie Lambert and Joanne Howl 
for posting on these birds); also 4 more at Davidsonville Park

The Lincoln's Sparrow that had been in our yard for seven days was not seen 
yesterday.

Gosh, it's hard to get any sleep with all these birds around.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)