I visited Southwest Area Park again this morning to follow up on Keith  
Costley's report of Vesper Sparrow from a few days ago. My plan was to park 
near  the boat ramp and walk around the south loop to the model airplane field, 
but I  didn't have to go very far. Two VESPER SPARROWS were foraging with a 
loose flock  of SAVANNAH SPARROWS, their usual compatriots, on the margins 
of the short path  to the foot bridge. The Vespers stood out immediately 
with their plump,  big-headed jizz and lack of facial striping, but the bright 
white malar and eye  ring were obvious, as were the white outer tail 
feathers in flight. Other  highlights from SWAP were RING-NECKED PHEASANT  calling 
from two locations,  a flyover female NORTHERN HARRIER, and a CASPIAN TERN.
 
Next stop was Halethorpe Ponds, where things were very quiet. Another  
CASPIAN TERN, two migrant BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, and my FOS NORTHERN PARULA were  
the highlights. It was good to see the sewer line project completed.
 
Before going home I made a quick pass through Kembo Road in NE Anne Arundel 
 County (the road to Swan Creek). A bright adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was in 
the  last pond on the left before the railroad tracks.
 
Lists from SWAP and Halethorpe are below.
 
Location:     Southwest Area Park
Observation date:   4/18/10
Notes:     Weather MC-MS, 45-50 degrees  F, wind 10 NW. Vesper Sparrows 
were foraging with ~10 Savannah Sparrows on the  north side of the foot bridge.
Number of species:      25

Mallard     3
Ring-necked Pheasant   2
Great Egret     1
Green Heron   1
Northern Harrier     1
Ring-billed  Gull     3
Caspian Tern     1
American  Crow     3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow      2
Carolina Chickadee     2
Carolina Wren      1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   4
American Robin     20
European  Starling     1
Eastern Towhee     1
Chipping  Sparrow     1
Vesper Sparrow     2
Savannah  Sparrow     12
Swamp Sparrow      2
White-throated Sparrow     1
Northern Cardinal   2
Red-winged Blackbird     10
Common  Grackle     4
American Goldfinch      6

Location:     Patapsco Ponds #4 & #5 (Halethorpe Farms  Ponds) 
Observation date:     4/18/10
Notes:   Weather MS, 55 degrees F, wind 10 NW.
Number of species:   32

Canada Goose     14
Wood Duck   1
Mallard     2
Double-crested Cormorant   13
Great Blue Heron     5
Green Heron   1
Turkey Vulture     1
Osprey   1
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Broad-winged  Hawk     2
Caspian Tern     1
Rock  Pigeon     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker      1
Downy Woodpecker     1
Blue Jay      5
American Crow     2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow   8
Carolina Chickadee     2
Tufted  Titmouse     4
Carolina Wren     1
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher     6
American Robin      10
European Starling     10
Northern Parula   1
Eastern Towhee     1
Swamp Sparrow   1
White-throated Sparrow     7
Northern  Cardinal     3
Red-winged Blackbird      8
Common Grackle     5
Brown-headed Cowbird   5
American Goldfinch     6

This report was  generated automatically by eBird v2(_http://ebird.org_ 
(http://ebird.org) )

Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD