Since I was coming down to Talbot County on Monday for the BBC's Poplar  
Island trip (see Kevin Graff's full report), I decided to start the day early  
with some land birding at reliable Pickering Creek. Some of the best birds 
there  were WILD TURKEY, CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, SUMMER TANAGER and LINCOLN"S 
SPARROW. Of  course, the very best bird of the day was a well-studied LEAST 
BITTERN at Poplar  Island in addition to a good selection of shorebirds. 
Altogether my list for the  day came to 98, many of them FOY's, and 27 new ticks 
for Talbot  County.
 
Some highlights from Pickering Creek:
 
WILD TURKEY - 3 toms in the NW field, one displaying nicely; more heard in  
the woods
Pied-billed Grebe - 1
Lesser Yellowlegs - 4
Solitary Sandpiper - 9
Least Sandpiper - 8
BARRED OWL - at least 2 individuals
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW - 1 singing on Presquile Road at 5:30
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1
Northern Parula - 2
Yellow Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler - 1, the only real migrant warbler
Pine Warbler - 2
American Redstart - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 6
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
SUMMER TANAGER - 1, singing and calling
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Grasshopper Sparrow - 3 or more at Pickering Creek but others singing along 
 Sharp Road at dawn
LINCOLN'S SPARROW - 1 very cooperative bird along Audubon Lane; I thought I 
 was hearing a strange House Wren song when this little sparrow hopped out 
into  the middle of the driveway.
Blue Grosbeak - 8
Eastern Meadowlark - 1
Orchard Oriole - 3
Baltimore Oriole - 5
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
 (mailto:[log in to unmask])  
 
 
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