Hi all,
 My daughter and I birded at Patuxent research center (P.G. county  side) 
yesterday morning, for my birthday. We walked along River Rd. (this  is 
actually part of the "research" part of the facility not open to the public),  
hearing many more birds then we saw. We noted many Yellow-throated Vireos, 
Cedar  Waxwings, Indigo Buntings, many Redstarts, White-eyed and Red-eyed 
Vireos, Wood  Thrushes galore, a displaying Yellow-breasted Chat who sang 
non-stop for hours,  a well seen singing/calling Least Flycatcher (lifer for 
Alli!!) along the edge  of the river, on a ridge of woods, Scarlet Tanager, and 
lots of gnatcatchers. We  heard Black & White Warbler and saw a few C. 
Yellowthroats too. Also saw or  heard Acadian Flycatcher and E. Kingbirds, and E. 
Phoebe.
 
After a break for more mosquito repellent and to pull off ticks (both were  
out in huge numbers there yesterday), we drove over to a swamp,  within 
earshot of the Whooping Crane area, where we walked along the edge.  Here we 
saw surprisingly few birds given the beautiful habitat, but we did  manage at 
least 2 Bald Eagles, as well as a beautiful male Prothonotary Warbler  
(where Alli says they nested last year), as well as  a small raft of Wood  Ducks, 
E. Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallows, Belted  Kingfisher, 
C. Grackle and Red-winged Blackbirds, A. Goldfinch, and E.  Bluebirds. 
Surprisingly, many of the Tree Swallows were nesting in old  woodpecker holes in 
the swamp, even though there were boxes for them. It was  nice habitat, and 
we searched in vain for Red-headed Woodpeckers.
 
We saw or heard about 57 species, including 10 warblers and 6  
flycatcher/kingbird species.
 
Later at home, just before dinner, we were sitting on the deck watching the 
 yard, when I saw some movement in the cherry trees above the woodpile. 
Grabbing  the binoculars I found an adult Blackpoll Warbler and Alli had a 
chance to see  it too before it made for cover in a maple tree, yard bird #118 
and year yard  bird # 86!
 
And we have been watching a beautiful pair of (Alpha) Baltimore Orioles  
building a nest in another cherry tree in our yard, very close to our fence, 
but  low enough to nearly touch.
 
Nice to see many familiar faces at the MOS Conference on Friday night,  
where we went to hear the presentation by Dr. Douglas Tallamy.
 
Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD
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