The group of 7 (Chesapeake Audubon birding trip) was extremely patient, persistent, and congenial this morning while birding Cylburn Arboretum--very enjoyable time. The place is beautiful with all the gardens and unusual flora. Great temperature--but the lighting wasn't so great, as it was very cloudy.

The one word to describe the birding: slowwwwwwwwwwww. (The honeybees at the apiary also lethargic.) Quite different from what the DC crowd found this morning at Rock Creek! Today, we were happy to find a red-eyed vireo!--that gives you an idea. Not many birds period--and those that were there, not too active. And when we did see something, it seemed to be fleeting or far away. 3 warbler species finally (redstart, magnolia, comm. yellowthroat). Swainson's and Wood Thrush. A Cooper's Hawk, an Osprey. Towhee, a Peewee. Someone probably saw one empid. At one point we ran into the MOS birding group, and they hadn't found much either. No os flycatcher today, yet. Still fun, and no rain.

Probably the highlight: several Scarlet Tanagers, including one drawing attention with its "chip-burr." When the birding was slow, we treewatched (the unusual leaves, seeds, fruits) and someone found a treefrog (maybe a gray). Jewellweed was waiting for hummers (which likely showed up after we left).

Tim Houghton
(Glen Arm)