Hi all,

    Not having seen much in the way of non-breeders lately, I decided to
target a few of the breeders that I have missed in the county so far this
year. First stop was Blue Mash where I was looking for Chat and Blue
Grosbeak. I saw a Chat but no Grosbeaks. Other highlights included Willow
Flycatchers and Yellow Warblers. Next I went to Brighton Dam to look for
Cliff Swallows which I quickly found. In light of James Moore's post of the
other day, I did not proceed to Triadelphia Lake Rd. Instead I went to the
Agricultural History Farm Park where I did not see any Blue Grosbeaks. I did
have some pretty good looks at a Grasshopper Sparrow singing from a fence
post that was part of the fence forming the animal pen behind the big red
barn. On the way east I stopped by the Soccerplex. Surprisingly, the crowds
were not bad, but I only stayed long enough to ascertain that there is no
shorebird habitat.

     Finally I went to the American Legion Bridge. I intended to have a
quick glimpse at the Peregrine Falcons, but this turned out to be my longest
stop.I saw one falcon perched next to the nest box and then left before I
disturbed them. On the way back to the car a jogger told me she had seen a
Tricolored Heron. Though seemingly not a birder, she seemed to know
something about birds. She was confident it wasn't a night-heron or a Great
Blue Heron. I would be happy with either Little Blue or Tricolored so I
decided to take a stab at it. Unfortunately all I had to go on was that it
was east of Lock 10 at a point where the canal has water and near some
Mallard Ducklings. I walked from Lock 10 to Lock 7 and back (a good ways
when you have to use the bathroom and have already told your body you are
almost at the car). In that time I saw only one heron, a Great Blue. It
seems likely it is a case of mistaken ID, but anyone who birds there
regularly may want to keep an eye out for it. Complete lists follow.

Location:     Blue Mash Nature Trail
Observation date:     5/30/09
Number of species:     31

Canada Goose     12
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture     1
Mourning Dove     4
Chimney Swift     3
Willow Flycatcher     2
Eastern Phoebe     2
Eastern Kingbird     3
White-eyed Vireo     3
Fish Crow     1
Tree Swallow     4
Carolina Chickadee     2
Tufted Titmouse     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     2
Gray Catbird     5
European Starling     1
Cedar Waxwing     4
Yellow Warbler     1
Prairie Warbler     3
Common Yellowthroat     7
Yellow-breasted Chat     1
Eastern Towhee     4
Field Sparrow     2
Song Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal     1
Indigo Bunting     2
Red-winged Blackbird     4
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
American Goldfinch     4


Location:     Triadelphia Reservoir--Brighton Dam
Observation date:     5/30/09
Number of species:     14

Canada Goose     7
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture     3
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Rock Pigeon     1
Eastern Phoebe     1
American Crow     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     2
Cliff Swallow     4
Wood Thrush     1
European Starling     2
Chipping Sparrow     2
Brown-headed Cowbird     2


Location:     Agricultural History Farm Park
Observation date:     5/30/09
Number of species:     30

Turkey Vulture     2
Red-shouldered Hawk     3
Red-tailed Hawk     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Great Crested Flycatcher     2
Eastern Kingbird     2
Red-eyed Vireo     2
Blue Jay     2
American Crow     1
Fish Crow     1
Tree Swallow     2
Barn Swallow     3
House Wren     1
Eastern Bluebird     1
Wood Thrush     2
American Robin     3
Gray Catbird     1
Northern Mockingbird     1
European Starling     1
Common Yellowthroat     3
Eastern Towhee     3
Chipping Sparrow     3
Grasshopper Sparrow     1
Song Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal     2
Indigo Bunting     7
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Orchard Oriole     1
American Goldfinch     3
House Sparrow     2


Location:     American Legion Bridge
Observation date:     5/30/09
Number of species:     26

Mallard     2
Great Blue Heron     1
Black Vulture     2
Turkey Vulture     4
Peregrine Falcon     1
Mourning Dove     1
Eastern Wood-Pewee     3
Acadian Flycatcher     2
Eastern Phoebe     2
Great Crested Flycatcher     1
Red-eyed Vireo     1
Blue Jay     2
American Crow     5
Fish Crow     5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1
Carolina Chickadee     1
Tufted Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     3
American Robin     1
European Starling     1
Northern Parula     2
Northern Cardinal     3
Common Grackle     1
Brown-headed Cowbird     1
Baltimore Oriole     1

Mike Ostrowski
North Bethesda, Mont. Co.