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Subject:

Who's still singing?

From:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Reply-To:

Gerald & Laura Tarbell

Date:

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:32:52 -0400

It is now July 19 and it is always interesting to see what birds are still
vocalizing. Around Carroll County in the last week, I've heard VEERIES and
of course WOOD THRUSH as well as a lot of residents - there are CARDINALS
singing as I write at 3PM. FLYCATCHERS - ACADIAN and GREAT CRESTED - are
still at it. EASTERN PEWEES are well represented.
     The all day, all summer bird, the RED-EYED VIREO won't shut up until
fall chases him outta here. Also heard a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO over at
Hashawa. COMMON YELLOWTHROATS are another one that sings up until it is time
to leave.

In Garrett, in addition to the HENSLOW'S SPARROWS, I heard plenty of
BLUEHEADS and a couple BLACK-THROATED GREENS and a NORTHERN PARULA. The list
of birds I didn't hear was much longer.

This AM we hiked a short section of the Blue trail in the Catoctins between
Rt 77 and Park Central Road just downhill from Camp David. We started right
near where Hunting Creek crosses RT 77 up there. We were surprised to
stumble onto a HOODED WARBLER singing his head off. Got nice looks. Later we
had a pair of them answering each other. Shortly after that we noticed a
commotion nearby and I got onto a KENTUCKY WARBLER while Laura found some
BLACK-AND-WHITES. They were very agitated and soon a pair of HOODEDS joined
them. We didn't feel that we were what had these birds stirred up. They
seemed to be focused on an area back off the trail several yards. A more
adventurous type might have bushwhacked in there and got nailed by a
rattlesnake, but I was content to guess that it was some predator of that
nature. We were just happy to have such a nice collection of warblers
entertaining us.

SCARLET TANAGERS were also singing in good numbers. It won't be long before
the males start turning green and looking real funny.

Finally: This winter will be one of those terrible ones where snow is
measured in feet rather than inches. How do I know this?

I don't and neither does anybody else but it sure is fun to scare people
with stupid predictions like that.

Jerry Tarbell
Still singing in Carroll County