Hi Everyone,

I spent the afternoon enjoying a leisurely float on the Patuxent River with Stan Arnold and Ed Carlson. We put in at the Route 4 boat launch, floated south with the tide to Mount Calvert, paddled the length of Western Branch, and then lazily drifted north with the changing tide. 

Aside from unexpectedly pleasant weather and relaxation, the highlights were a calling LEAST BITTERN on the Anne Arundel side and three loud choruses of GREEN TREEFROGs, also on the AA side. Healthy counts of Marsh Wrens, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and others were nice as well.

Here are four eBird lists: Route 4 to Mount Calvert (AA and PG) and the Mount Calvert area (AA and PG).

Patuxent River--Route 4 to Mount Calvert (Anne Arundel Co.)

Wood Duck--2
Mallard--2
Great Blue Heron--5
Osprey--11. Three juveniles seen on one close nest platform.
Rock Pigeon--13
Mourning Dove--4
Chimney Swift--1
Belted Kingfisher--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--2
Downy Woodpecker--1
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Yellow-throated Vireo--1
Blue Jay--1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--2
Purple Martin--3 at gourd colony
Tree Swallow--3
Barn Swallow--8
Marsh Wren--6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--1
Wood Thrush--3
European Starling--12
Cedar Waxwing--4
Common Yellowthroat--11
Eastern Towhee--3
Song Sparrow--2
Scarlet Tanager--1
Northern Cardinal--2
Indigo Bunting--6
Red-winged Blackbird--95
Common Grackle--34
Orchard Oriole--2
Non-avian: American Beaver (2), Common Muskrat (1). GREEN TREE FROGs at three locations; Bullfrogs, Green Frogs. Abundant Eastern Amberwings, Black Saddlebags, Orange Bluets; Prince Baskettails.

Patuxent River--Route 4 to Mount Calvert (P.G. Co.)

Wood Duck--2
Mallard--2
Great Blue Heron--5
Great Egret--2
Osprey--9
Bald Eagle--1
Mourning Dove--2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Pileated Woodpecker--1
Acadian Flycatcher--1
White-eyed Vireo--2
Yellow-throated Vireo--1
Red-eyed Vireo--1
Blue Jay--2
Purple Martin--3 at gourd colony
Tree Swallow--2
Barn Swallow--6
Marsh Wren--9
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--4
Wood Thrush--1
Gray Catbird--2
European Starling--18
Cedar Waxwing--4
Northern Parula--2
Yellow Warbler--1
Prothonotary Warbler--1
Common Yellowthroat--10
Song Sparrow--1
Northern Cardinal--3
Indigo Bunting--6
Red-winged Blackbird--85
Common Grackle--25
American Goldfinch--2
Non-avian: American Beaver (2), Common Muskrat (2), Great Spangled Fritillary (1), Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, Pickerel Frog (1 heard), Eastern Amberwings, Black Saddlebags, Orange Bluets; Prince Baskettails. 

Patuxent River Park--Mt. Calvert 
(and Western Branch to the WSSC Treatment Plant)

Wood Duck--4
Great Blue Heron--7
Great Egret--2
Black Vulture--3
Turkey Vulture--2
Bald Eagle--1
Mourning Dove--2
Chimney Swift--2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--1
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Acadian Flycatcher--4
Eastern Phoebe--4. Three locations, including pair nesting on a dock along Western Branch.
Eastern Kingbird--2
White-eyed Vireo--5
Yellow-throated Vireo--2
Red-eyed Vireo--5
Blue Jay--1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--28. Two groups roosting in branches along the river, a few others hunting over the river. Nice count.
Tree Swallow--2
Barn Swallow--7
Tufted Titmouse--3
Marsh Wren--16. All singing birds.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--9
Wood Thrush--3
American Robin--5
Gray Catbird--1
Cedar Waxwing--2
Northern Parula--3
Yellow Warbler--4
American Redstart--1. Singing persistently along Western Branch.
Prothonotary Warbler--1. Singing near the WSSC treatment plant.
Ovenbird--1
Common Yellowthroat--16
Song Sparrow--1
Northern Cardinal--6
Indigo Bunting--27
Red-winged Blackbird--46
Common Grackle--7
Brown-headed Cowbird--1
Orchard Oriole--2
Baltimore Oriole--1. Singing just south of Mount Calvert.
House Finch--1
American Goldfinch--1

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (Anne Arundel Co.)

Wood Duck--2
Least Bittern--1. Clearly heard calling from a cattail stand well north of the old railroad trail.
Great Blue Heron--3
Osprey--5
Chimney Swift--3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Eastern Phoebe--1
Eastern Kingbird--1
Barn Swallow--2
Marsh Wren--4
American Robin--2
Common Yellowthroat--3
Northern Cardinal--1
Indigo Bunting--2
Red-winged Blackbird--18
Common Grackle--2
Non-avian: Loud chorus of GREEN TREEFROGs (actually my first in Anne Arundel). Other non-avian: Common Muskrat, Cope's Gray Treefrogs, Green Frogs, Eastern Amberwings, Black Saddlebags, Orange Bluets, Prince Basktetails.

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com