Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Garrett and Allegany--8/29/2009

From:

Ronald Gutberlet

Reply-To:

Ronald Gutberlet

Date:

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:24:11 -0400

Hi Everyone,

I spent Saturday (29 Aug 2009) in western MD, following up on recent good reports from Mikey Lutmerding and Bill Hubick and seeing what else I could find.  A few highlights...

My first stop was Finzel Swamp, where I ran into Tom Feild.  Not much in the way of warblers, but birds here included:

Sharp-shinned Hawk--1 imm
Red-Shouldered Hawk--1 imm
Cliff Swallow--2
Magnolia Warbler--2
Purple Finch--3

The Youghiogheny Reservoir (accessed from the end of Old Morgantown Rd) was more exciting.  I arrived to find Jim Stasz, Tom Field, Hans and Angela Holbrook, JB Churchill, and David Yeany.  They gave me the shorebird report--all good news except for the lack of the previously noted Western Sandpiper.  In addition to the good shorebirds here, a highlight for me was the sudden appearance of 4 CASPIAN TERNS that were still present when I left at about 2:30 pm.  A few of the Yough birds, including all shorebirds observed:

Wild Turkey--1
Bald Eagle--2 imm (my county closeout #43)
Osprey--2
Broad-winged Hawk--1
Killdeer--35
Semipalmated Plover--2
Spotted Sandpiper--2
Solitary Sandpiper--2
Lesser Yellowlegs--1
Least Sandpiper--7
Semipalmated Sandpiper--4
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER--1
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER--2
CASPIAN TERN--4
Common Raven--2

Next I headed east to Dan's Rock in Allegany County.  I spent 30 minutes up there, seeing mostly Turkey Vultures.  Additionally, 1 OSPREY, 1 COMMON RAVEN, and 1 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD came by.

Then North Branch (Allegany Co), with good shorebirds and a few other species of note:

Wood Duck--10
Blue-winged Teal--6
Cooper's Hawk--1
Broad-winged Hawk--1
Killdeer--45
Semipalmated Plover--2
Solitary Sandpiper--2
Lesser Yellowlegs--1
Greater Yellowlegs--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Least Sandpiper--2
Semipalmated Sandpiper--2
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER--2
Pectoral Sandpiper--2
COMMON NIGHTHAWK--1
Cliff Swallow--1

My last stop before dark and the drive home was Rocky Gap State Park in Allegany County.  My simple goal was to find a Common Yellowthroat for closeout #44.  Pishing brought up some ragged looking Song Sparrows, and then low in a short willow I noticed a small bird with a yellow throat and a dark eyeline bordered by a pale supercilium.  The dark eyeline extended distinctly onto the lores, helping to rule out Warbling Vireo.  The yellow was restricted to the throat and upper breast; below that the underparts were white to pale gray.  No wingbars; short tail.  The bill was small and dark, but not sharply pointed like in a Vermivora warbler...  PHILADELPHIA VIREO!  My first for the state and MD year bird 316.  I did also pry my eyes away from the vireo for a second to glance at a male Common Yellowthroat that popped up nearby.

Just in case anyone is interested in the location:  The Philadelphia Vireo was close to the lake shore at the large parking area off of Pleasant Valley Rd NE.  When driving toward the main entrance to the state park, Pleasant Valley Rd NE is on the right.  The first left from this road takes you into the large parking area (pretty sure there is a boat ramp here, but I don't remember for sure).  Straight ahead is a tiny wetland separated from the lake and lined with catttails.  The bird was in a small willow between the wetland and the lake.  A short, mowed-grass path provides direct access to the willows.

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD