A distinctly damp, and occasionally really wet, morning for an ANS 
trip to Blue Mash Nature Trail, northern Montgomery County, on Sunday, May 23.

Notwithstanding the poor weather, Woody Dubois, Susan Hunt and I had 
a rewarding 3 early morning hours at Blue Mash.

Best bird was a female BOBOLINK, perched up high for a brief 
time.  We had 2 male BLUE GROSBEAK, perched and singing, but no 
indication of females.  WILLOW FLYCATCHER (5), YELLOW WARBLER (6), 
and (particularly) COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (14) were widespread and 
vocal.  Just before we threw in the (literal and metaphorical) towel, 
we located a singing YELLOW-THROATED CHAT in a large tree in the 
overgrown field east of Zion Rd., across from Blue Mash.  No migrant 
warblers at all except for a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, heard very briefly.

We also had several 1st year ORCHARD ORIOLES perfecting their singing 
technique.  Apart from Killdeer, only shorebirds seen were 3 SPOTTED 
SANDPIPER, one of which (presumably a male) was doing a very 
interesting, grouse-like running-with-wings-extended display for the 
benefit of another bird, presumably a female.

Mike Bowen
Atlantic Naturalist Society field trip leader
Montgomery Bird Club, MOS
Bethesda, MD

D.H. Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD  20817
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom

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