LeJay Graffious and I ventured over to Garrett County
this morning to see what shorebirds might still be
around. Not many, as it turned out.

Youghiogheny Reservoir from Old Morgantown Road:
Note: water levels have dropped significantly in recent
days with much of the remaining mud having dried out.

Killdeer--5
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Baird's Sandpiper--2
Least Sandpiper--3
Great Blue Heron--12, with 10 together in a small area
where fish must have been concentrated
Green Heron--3
Belted Kingfisher--2
Osprey--1 on platform, jumping and flapping its wings.
Hard to believe it still has not fledged.

Later we ventured to Finzel Swamp, where we found:
Fog, fog, and more fog--visibility only 200 feet or so.

Nevertheless, we were entertained by a World War I-
type dogfight between 2 immature Sharp-shinned Hawks
and about 20 Blue Jays, with another 10 lending vocal
support from the trees. Back and forth they went, the
Sharpies scritching, the Blue Jays screaming, first the
Sharpies chasing the Jays, then the Jays chasing the
Sharpies. The result was a bloodless draw, which I
guess means the Blue Jays won.

Also of interest:
Brown Thrasher--1, flaring its tail and wing feathers
in self-defense in a tree which a Sharpie approached
Blackburnian Warbler--2
Gray Catbird--10, all heard-only

Terry Bronson
Morgantown, WV