Hello all--

I'm considering birding in Western MD on Saturday-- and could use some advice. I will be limited in time, as it will be a day trip and have to be back home in the evening. While there are some year birds I'd be going for, my real target birds Alder Flycatcher and Black-billed Cuckoo (not sure if Western MD is a good place for them or not.)

I'm planning on hitting Finzel Swamp for Alder's FC-- though I struck out there twice last year. If Finzel is not productive again for me, any ideas on other reliable locations for Alder's FC? (I would prefer not to drive much further west than Finzel, or maybe New Germany).

Black-billed Cuckoo has been a repeated strike-out for me all over the state, so, any advice in general would be great-- but particularly if there are any "reliable" locations in Western MD while I'm out there.

For my year birds, I'm planning on hitting Old Legislative Road to look for Golden-winged Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow, and maybe Pea Ridge Road for Henslow's, Bobolinks. If anyone has some general advice on birding in Western MD, better spots, a nice route for hitting locations, or the like, it would be appreciated. Thanks!

dcs

David C. Smith
Owings Mills, MD