Hi Everyone,

Mikey Lutmerding and I covered the Nanjemoy area for the Charles Co. May Count on Saturday (5/9). The bird activity was consistently high, with vocal nesting songbirds supplemented by ample migrants. Over the course of the day we tallied 124 species, including 24 species of warbler. Some highlights for the day were good numbers of nightjars, two BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOs, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, BLACKBURNIAN and other warblers, and a BLACK TERN among 10 FORSTERs TERNs at Allen's Fresh.

We began our night birding at 3:00 a.m. and had very good luck, especially with nightjars. These included 17 singing WHIP-POOR-WILLs, four CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWs, two night migrant BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOs, and the three expected owls. Here are the abridged lists for the rest of the day.

Nanjemoy Area--Maryland Point Road 

Barred Owl--1
WHIP-POOR-WILL--7
Ovenbird--2
warbler sp.--3 seep notes

Nanjemoy Area--Smith Point Road

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO--2; night migrants
Eastern Screech-Owl--1; red morph
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW--4; one calling extremely close to the road, including strange alternate calls we described as 'chi-kunk, chi-kunk, chi-kunk'
WHIP-POOR-WILL--10; exact count of singing birds
warbler sp.--3 seep notes
Indigo Bunting--1 night migrant

Nanjemoy Environmental Education Center (private)

Solitary Sandpiper--2 flybys
Yellow-billed Cuckoo--1
Great Horned Owl--1; whining juvenile
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Acadian Flycatcher--4
Eastern Phoebe--1
Great Crested Flycatcher--3
Eastern Kingbird--1
Yellow-throated Vireo--2
Red-eyed Vireo--3
MARSH WREN--1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--6
Eastern Bluebird--3
Wood Thrush--1
Gray Catbird--1
Cedar Waxwing--14
Northern Parula--4
Yellow-throated Warbler--4
Common Yellowthroat--1
Summer Tanager--2
Scarlet Tanager--1
Eastern Towhee--2
Chipping Sparrow--3
Song Sparrow--1
White-throated Sparrow--1
BOBOLINK--1 
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK--1
Blue Grosbeak--2
Indigo Bunting--10

Nanjemoy Area--Tayloes Neck Road

Wild Turkey--1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo--2
Acadian Flycatcher--2
White-eyed Vireo--2
Yellow-throated Vireo--1
Red-eyed Vireo--1
Wood Thrush--1
Gray Catbird--2
Cedar Waxwing--3
Northern Parula--2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--4
Prairie Warbler--2
BLACKPOLL WARBLER--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
Ovenbird--3
Common Yellowthroat--1
Hooded Warbler--2
Scarlet Tanager--2
Eastern Towhee--2
Chipping Sparrow--1
Field Sparrow--2
Indigo Bunting--5
Baltimore Oriole--1

Nanjemoy Area--Port Tobacco Road

Yellow-billed Cuckoo--1
White-eyed Vireo--1
Barn Swallow--2
Northern Parula--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
Ovenbird--1
Common Yellowthroat--4
Hooded Warbler--1
Grasshopper Sparrow--1
Indigo Bunting--5
Orchard Oriole--1

Nanjemoy Area--Hancock Run Road

Wild Turkey--1; calling
Acadian Flycatcher--3
Yellow-throated Vireo--2
Red-eyed Vireo--8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--9
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--1; singing
Wood Thrush--5
Gray Catbird--1
Brown Thrasher--1
Cedar Waxwing--18
Northern Parula--7
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER--1
MAGNOLIA WARBLER--3
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER--3
Pine Warbler--3
Black-and-white Warbler--1
Ovenbird--11
Louisiana Waterthrush--2
Common Yellowthroat--2
Hooded Warbler--5
Scarlet Tanager--4
Grasshopper Sparrow--1; field at east end of road
Blue Grosbeak--2
Indigo Bunting--3
Eastern Meadowlark--2; east end of road

Nanjemoy Area--Adams Willett Road

Yellow-billed Cuckoo--2
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Acadian Flycatcher--5
Yellow-throated Vireo--2
Red-eyed Vireo--9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--5
Eastern Bluebird--2
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--1 seen
Northern Parula--5
Pine Warbler--2
Prairie Warbler--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1
American Redstart--2
Ovenbird--7
Kentucky Warbler--1
Yellow-breasted Chat--1
Scarlet Tanager--3
White-throated Sparrow--2

Nanjemoy Area--Rte 224 and Thorne Gut

Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER--2; nesting in a dead snag
Eastern Wood-Pewee--2
Acadian Flycatcher--2
Great Crested Flycatcher--2
Red-eyed Vireo--11
Tree Swallow--4; Nesting in dead snags
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--4
SWAINSON'S THRUSH--1; singing
Wood Thrush--7
Gray Catbird--1
Northern Parula--16
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER--2
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE)--2
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER--2
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER--1
Yellow-throated Warbler--1
Pine Warbler--2
American Redstart--2
Prothonotary Warbler--4
Ovenbird--4
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH--1
Louisiana Waterthrush--1
Common Yellowthroat--1
Hooded Warbler--4
Scarlet Tanager--3
Indigo Bunting--2

Nanjemoy Area--Liverpool Point Road

Double-crested Cormorant--6
Killdeer--1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Hairy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--1
Eastern Phoebe--1
White-eyed Vireo--1
Red-eyed Vireo--9
House Wren--1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--4
Northern Parula--5
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER--1
Yellow-throated Warbler (dominica)--1
BLACKPOLL WARBLER--1
American Redstart--1
Worm-eating Warbler--1; extremely quiet today; we only had a couple singing for the day despite much effort in perfect habitat. (We suspect they were quiet, busy with nesting responsibilities, rather than not present.)
Ovenbird--3
Louisiana Waterthrush--1
Kentucky Warbler--1
Hooded Warbler--2
Scarlet Tanager--2
Blue Grosbeak--1
Indigo Bunting--3

Baptist Church Road

Wood Duck--8, including 7 youngsters
Red-eyed Vireo--1
Tree Swallow--2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Northern Parula--2
Pine Warbler--1
Black-and-white Warbler--1; demonstrating how similar its song can be to that of Bay-breasted Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler--2
Common Yellowthroat--1
Field Sparrow--1
Indigo Bunting--3

Friendship Landing Park

Double-crested Cormorant--12
Green Heron--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Acadian Flycatcher--1
Eastern Kingbird--2
White-eyed Vireo--1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Wood Thrush--1
Cedar Waxwing--12
Northern Parula--1
Yellow-throated Warbler--1
American Redstart--1
Indigo Bunting--2
Baltimore Oriole--2; male singing persistently, female carrying a long strand of nesting material

Port Tobacco Marina

Mallard--4
Double-crested Cormorant--11
Osprey--9
Bald Eagle--2
Ring-billed Gull--2 immatures
ROCK PIGEON--1--flyby; scarce and local in Charles; perhaps the only sighting for the Charles Co. May Count
Eastern Phoebe--1
Eastern Kingbird--1
Purple Martin--15
Tree Swallow--2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--2
Barn Swallow--6
Scarlet Tanager--1
Song Sparrow--1
Common Grackle (Purple)--3; a pair was nesting directly below an Osprey nest on top of a pole supporting four flood lights; an outstanding security system
Orchard Oriole--1

Allens Fresh (private access)

Met up with George Jett and Gwen Brewer to bird this excellent property, which was covered by John Hubbell in the morning. We missed some of the good marsh birds found by John, but the Black Tern was a fine consolation.

NORTHERN BOBWHITE--7
Double-crested Cormorant--4
Bald Eagle--6
VIRGINIA RAIL--2; two called; one walked out into the open and showed nicely
Killdeer--3
Solitary Sandpiper--16 *
Greater Yellowlegs--2
Lesser Yellowlegs--17 *
Least Sandpiper--8
PECTORAL SANDPIPER--1
BLACK TERN--1; * Rarely detected in Charles Co. Great spot by Mikey as it flew north with the ten Forster's Terns; according to George, the first reported in Charles in a few years
Forster's Tern--10
COMMON NIGHTHAWK--3; flying north over the tree line to the west
Chimney Swift--2
Great Crested Flycatcher--2
Eastern Kingbird--2
White-eyed Vireo--2
Horned Lark--3
MARSH WREN--8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Eastern Bluebird--4
Wood Thrush--1
Brown Thrasher--4
AMERICAN PIPIT--1; flyover, calling
Yellow Warbler--8; common and vocal around the ponds; the only ones we found all day
Common Yellowthroat--21
Yellow-breasted Chat--1
Scarlet Tanager--1
Eastern Towhee--9
Field Sparrow--3
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--2
Grasshopper Sparrow--2
Swamp Sparrow--1
Blue Grosbeak--1
Indigo Bunting--4
Eastern Meadowlark--3
Orchard Oriole--9; vocal

NON-AVIAN:

In addition to great bird diversity, Mikey and I made an effort to locate as many amphibian and reptile species as possible. Among the 20 species we tallied, our favorites included calling Green Tree Frogs, a BROAD-HEADED SKINK, and a MUSK TURTLE (Stinkpot), which was my long overdue first in the state (despite finding dozens of Mud Turtles). 

Here's a photo:
http://www.billhubick.com/images2/musk_turtle_charles_co_md_20090509_01.jpg

AROUND THE HOUSE

Around the yard just south of Fort Smallwood Park yesterday (5/10) was my first-of-year LEAST FLYCATCHER, calling and bug-catching in the early a.m. This is one week earlier than my first sightings at home and Fort Smallwood last year (5/17 and 5/18, respectively). Also hanging out were a beautiful male Magnolia Warbler, an American Redstart, a singing Blackpoll, and three continuing Common Yellowthroats. 

KITE PHOTO!

After enduring the usual hazing about missing yet another MISSISSIPPI KITE practically (if not literally) over my back yard, I had to report for second shift sky-watching duty at Fort Smallwood yesterday. As Sue Ricciardi and Matt Grey joined me, I enjoyed excitedly showing them my first kite photo from Fort Smallwood. 

http://www.billhubick.com/images2/kite_at_fort_smallwood.jpg


*** PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF THE MATTAWOMAN WATERSHED:

http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/2009/mattawoman.html

Good birding!

Bill 

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com