I led a field trip for the Cecil Bird Club on Sunday morning, 5/31/09. Despite the heavy rain when we met at Big Elk Mall, the weather soon cleared and we had a pleasant trip. The trip turned out to be "Cecil Birds of Forest, Field and Water."
The highlight were the Dickcissels which continue, as previously reported, near the intersection of Sandy Bottom and New Cut Rds in southern Cecil County. Two singing birds were seen in the tops of arbor vitae, set back along a driveway behind a fenced hay field at the northwest corner of the intersection. We had excellent scope views of the singing birds. We spoke with the friendly landowner, who stated that Dickcissels have been breeding at this location for the past couple of years. He also stated that he leaves the hay unmown for as long as he can to benefit the birds. Thanks to all who posted to alert us to these birds. And please respect the privacy of the people and do not trespass - stay on the public road.
The Dickcissel homeowner also told us that a couple of weeks ago, he picked up a an injured female Common Loon along New Cut Rd and took her to Tri-State Bird Rescue, where she reportedly recovered from what was believed to be a raptor attack.
Also near the Dickcissel site were Eastern Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, and at least one, possibly more, Grasshopper Sparrows. Again, we had excellent scope views of these birds. The Grasshopper Sparrow posed nicely, and for a long time, singing on the fence of the hayfield.
Complete species list follows. Places visited were Elk Neck State Forest (ENSF), southern Cecil County near Cecilton (SC), and Hack's Point (HP), with an optional extension to North East Town Park (NETP), primarily to pick up a mandatory gull for Gene. Participants were Jake Bowman, Ken Drier, Chris Leach, Gene Scarpulla, and Marcia Watson.
Canada Goose (HP)
Mallard (HP)
Double-crested Cormorant (NETP)
Great Blue Heron (ENSF)
Cattle Egret (sc)
Green Heron (Big Elk Mall flyover)
Turkey Vulture (roadsides)
Osprey (ENSF)
Bald Eagle (HP, roadsides)
Red-shouldered Hawk (sc)
Red-tailed Hawk (sc)
Ring-billed Gull (ENSF, NETP)
Unidentified Tern Sp. (HP)
Mourning Dove (sc)
Chimney Swift (sc)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (ENSF)
Downy Woodpecker (ENSF)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (ENSF)
Acadian Flycatcher (ENSF)
Eastern Kingbird (sc)
White-eyed Vireo (ENSF)
Red-eyed Vireo (ENSF)
Blue Jay (ENSF)
American Crow (ENSF)
Fish Crow (ENSF)
Horned Lark (sc)
Purple Martin (sc)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (HP)
Barn Swallow (sc)
Carolina Chickadee (ENSF)
Tufted Titmouse (ENSF)
Carolina Wren (ENSF)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (ENSF)
Wood Thrush (ENSF)
American Robin (ENSF, SC, roadsides)
Gray Catbird (ENSF)
Northern Mockingbird (ENSF, SC, roadsides)
European Starling (roadsides)
Pine Warbler (ENSF)
Black-and-white Warbler (ENSF)
Worm-eating Warbler (ENSF)
Ovenbird (ENSF)
Common Yellowthroat (ENSF)
Hooded Warbler (ENSF)
Scarlet Tanager (ENSF)
Eastern Towhee (ENSF)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (sc)
Song Sparrow (sc)
Northern Cardinal (ENSF)
Dickcissel (sc)
Red-winged Blackbird (sc)
Eastern Meadowlark (sc)
Common Grackle (sc, roadsides)
Brown-headed Cowbird (ENSF)
House Finch (HP)
American Goldfinch (ENSF, HP)
House Sparrow (HP, roadsides)
Lepidoptera
Pipevine Swallowtail (ENSF)
Spicebush Swallowtail (ENSF)
Black Swallowtail (ENSF)
Tiger Swallowtail (ENSF, HP)
Orange Sulfur (ENSF)
Clouded Sulfur (ENSF)
Cabbage White (ENSF)
Little Wood Satyr (ENSF)
Hairstreak Sp. (ENSF)
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Marcia
Marcia Watson
Elkton, Maryland
Cecil Bird Club
Maryland Ornithological Society
www.udel.edu/cecilbirds |