Jug Bay was a wonderful place to witness the magic of migration yesterday eve.  It was rainy and cold (temp was 40-38; light breeze) but the bird show was spectacular.  I was out from 4:15 to 5:30.  I birded at my house from 4:15 to 4:35, Mt Calvert Manor from 4:40-5:05 (an employee came at 5 to close it up and lock the gate), and from 5:10- to 5:30 I looked around in the pastures and some more at the river from our house and my neighbors also.  A steady stream of waterfowl and blackbirds were either coming in to roost in the marshes or passing by fairly low the entire time.  I also saw many sparrows (8 species) in the fields and swamps.

The highlight for waterfowl was a large flock of 850 Canada Geese that I could hear coming for a long time, and when it got to Jug Bay the flock hovered a bit, then broke into groups that peeled off to land, ending up all over the place.  A wonderful sight and concert!  There were many other smaller groups of waterfowl passing by, but species composition was low (only saw Canada Geese, Mallard, Black Duck, and GW Teal).

The blackbird show was amazing.  Flock after flock of 50 to several hundred kept coming in to roost in the marsh.  I tried to count and for the totals I estimated 8,000 Red-wings (conservative), 1,170 cowbirds, and 665 starlings.

Sparrrows were great, and I am inspired to look for more this weekend!

Mt Calvert-
Eastern Towhee		3
Chipping Sparrow		4
Savannah Sparrow		1
Song Sparrow		16
White-throated Sparrow	14
White-crowned Sparrow	3 (1 ad. 2 im.)

Private pasture and swamp-
Eastern Towhee	5
Song Sparrow	9
Lincoln's Sparrow	2
Swamp Sparrow	21
White-throated Sparrow	14

If you want to try an evening at Mt Calvert, you will need to park at the entrance since they close at 5 now.  Park at the old Railroad ROW, in front of the gate and walk in.  The residence on your right when you first enter the site is private property (the former owners of the site), please be courteous and quiet while in front of their house.  I normally don't start birding until I have gone past their house.  It is light out now until about 6:25-35, depending on weather.

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD