Stan,

Jug Bay was closed today for a managed deer hunt.  They did it for two days (Jan 8 and Jan 9) and will repeat in the fall.  The Glendening preserve was well marked with the announcement, but the road to the visitor center was not.  

At Jug Bay, AA county side, we saw about 6 eagles.  One was very, very golden, but showed no observable white tail, so I have to presume it was a first or second year juvenile BALD EAGLE - it was at a distance and not very cooperative for viewing details.  

There was a PILEATED WOODPECKER that flew across Wrighton Road.  There was a gorgeous and very classic SAVANNAH SPARROW there as well, across the road from where the crossbills were seen last year.  

I saw a nice flock of blackbirds on Wrighton Road.  I saw, for sure, a few STARLINGS in the flock, just where Stan describes his flock.  There were other blackbirds I did not ID.   So - I'm sittin' here thinkin' that I saw those RUSTY BLACKBIRDS - but I guess if I didn't actually ID them myself, it doesn't count.  Does it?  Huh? Huh? (ever hopeful...)

There were KILLDEER in the field on Wrighton Road, near the entrance.  Also, there were three NORTHERN FLICKERS on the ground in various areas near Wrighton Road, pecking in the fields.  (there was a suggestion made that, perhaps, they were eating wormsicles, given the icy temperature.  I'd never considered that....).  One Flicker was gorgeous and obviously YELLOW SHAFTED.   

In one field we saw a RED BELLIED WOODPECKER, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD, a NORTHERN FLICKER and a BLUE JAY all together on the ground, working the field.  They were all viewable in the same binocular field at the same time - an interesting array.  

The hemlocks seemed quiet, except for a CAROLINA CHICKADEE happily working the open cones. 

In Deale, we stopped by Early Birds, where there was the usual array of sparrows, finches and female redwing blackirds.  A pair of RED SHOULDERED HAWKS came by and viewed the area for awhile.  I hear that they do not seem to take the birds - which happily kept feeding in the presence of the hawks - but that they must take squirrels, as the squirrels disappear whenever the red shoulders show up.  

Lastly, our first stop of the day was at Schoolhouse Pond, where we saw an interesting array of domestic/hybrid geese, as well as the ICELAND GULL.  The gull was very obvious - once we were put on it.  I don't think, however, I could have actually picked it out the first time from all of those milling birds.  Thanks to the fellow birders who pointed it out!  I missed the Thayers and and Lesser Black Back - maybe another time. 

Oh - and those fabulous Bald Eagles off of Rt. 2 - not there today.  And the carcass appears to only be bones.  Sorry to those who made the trip (and I know at least one who did!). 

Joanne

Joanne Howl, DVM

West River, MD












-----Original Message-----
From: stanley arnold <>S
To: 
Sent: Sat, Jan 9, 2010 7:50 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Rusty Blackbirds in AA


Hi Folks,
I spent some time today around Jug Bay along the Pautuxent River with
he most interesting find being a flock of nearly 80 RUSTY BLACKBIRDs
long Wrighton Rd. (near entrance to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, AA
o.) exactly where the White-winged Crossbills were found last year.
he blackbirds were along the edge of the road with about 20 starlings
nd two female Red-winged Blackbirds.  As I approached in the car the
lock flew up into the trees of Glendening Preserve, but I pulled off
he road and killed the engine and watched them fly back to the road
dge, getting the best view of these birds I've ever had.  The females
ere very brown and the males were fairly black, but with rusty
ollars and most with brown on the head.  I found one male that had no
rown on it, and I was thinking Brewer's Blackbird, but it may have
een a male Rusty transitioning to breeding plumage early in the year.
I was here to visit the Sanctuary, but for some reason unknown to me
t was closed today, though it is normally opened on Saturdays.
Earlier I had visited Selby's Landing where I found nearly 100 COMMON
ERGANSERs on the river (PG & AA counties) among hundreds of Black
ucks.  A FOX SPARROW and SAPSUCKER along the boat launch in PG were
ice to find, and there were two HORNED LARKs in the field where the
irfield used to be.
At Jackson Landing, also in PG, I viewed over 1000 gulls, mostly
erring, but was not able to pick out any white-wings.
My last stop at Sands Road Park in AA Co. provided three Savannah
parrows, but it was pretty slow here in the early afternoon.
Stan Arnold
erndale (AA Co.)
 (preferred address)