Hi Everyone,
Yesterday (7/24), I joined Jim Brighton, Tom Feild, and John Hubbell in searching for post-breeding herons in western Maryland. As noted by Rob Ostrowski, it was a great day to do so. In addition to successfully chasing the WHITE IBIS (thanks, Jim Green) and LITTLE BLUE HERON (thanks, Stasz) in Washington Co., we found four GREAT EGRETs between Washington and Garrett Counties, as well as three STILT SANDPIPERs along the Youghiogheny River off Old Morgantown Road. Jim Brighton also spotted a nice butterfly at North Branch in Allegany Co., a LITTLE YELLOW - a first in the state for all but Jim.
Here are the abridged lists from eBird:
C&O Canal--Dam #3
Wood Duck--5
Double-crested Cormorant--2
Great Blue Heron--4
LITTLE BLUE HERON--1 immature. Found on 7/23 by Jim Stasz. Flew several times and roosted in a large tree directly across from the WV viewing area.
Bald Eagle--1 adult
Killdeer--1
Spotted Sandpiper--4
Eastern Phoebe--1
Eastern Kingbird--5
Fish Crow--6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--10
Purple Martin--4
Tree Swallow--80
Bank Swallow--2
Barn Swallow--5
Song Sparrow--1
Baltimore Oriole--2
A Louisiana Waterthrush was singing on the West Virginia side.
Non-avian: American Rubyspot (10), Powdered Dancers (abundant).
Route 66--The White Ibis Pond
Canada Goose--60
Great Blue Heron--1
WHITE IBIS--1. Continuing immature found by Jim Green. Many photos. #200 in Washington County for me.
Barn Swallow--2
House Wren--1
Chipping Sparrow--1
Mount Aetna
Killdeer--10
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Great Crested Flycatcher--2
Eastern Towhee--1
Non-avian: Widow Skimmer (abundant from here west today), 12-spotted Skimmer, E. Amberwing, Black Saddlebags, anglewing sp., E. Tiger Swallowtails (~12, including several dark form), Eastern Tailed Blue.
Horseshoe Flooded Field
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)--2
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Solitary Sandpiper--5
Tree Swallow--1
Barn Swallow--5
Song Sparrow--1
Eastern Meadowlark--3
Non-avian: E. Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, Variegated Fritillary, Red-spotted Admiral, Silver-spotted Skipper, Clouded Sulfur, Orange Sulfur, Zabulon Skipper (Jim only), Common Whitetail, Blue Dasher. Includes field about 1/4 mile south from this pull-off.
Hagerstown Mall Ponds
Killdeer--5
Solitary Sandpiper--2
Non-avian: Family of four Common Muskrats, Spot-winged Glider, Wandering Glider, Common Snapping Turtle, Black Swallowtail.
Hagerstown Regional Airport
American Kestrel--1
Killdeer--2
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Fish Crow--2
Barn Swallow--40
Grasshopper Sparrow--2
Eastern Meadowlark--1
Fort Frederick SP---Big Pool
Water level surprisingly high.
Canada Goose--20
Great Blue Heron--1
GREAT EGRET--1. Scarce in the county. West end of the lake.
Green Heron--1
Chimney Swift--4
Belted Kingfisher--1
Eastern Kingbird--1
Cedar Waxwing--2
Non-avian: RED-EARED TURTLE (my first in the county; not listed by Harris, 1975), Northern Water Snake (Bill only), Eastern Painted Turtles, Red-bellied Turtle (1 scoped by Tom), Slaty Skimmer (my furthest west record, spotted by Tom), E. Amberwing, Fragile Forktail, Common Pondhawk, Blue Dasher. E. Tiger Swallowtail (inc. dark forms), Silver-spotted Skipper.
Cumberland---Terminus
Canada Goose--15
Mallard--4
Great Blue Heron--1
GREAT EGRET--1. * Scarce in the county. County bird for all except John. Photos. Feeding on the pebble island visible just south of I-68. Still present when we drove past on our way home around 7:00 p.m.
Green Heron--3
KILLDEER--68. Impressive count feeding on the small island.
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Least Sandpiper--2
Chimney Swift--10
Fish Crow--5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow--5
Barn Swallow--5
C&O Canal--North Branch
Wood Duck--12 along the canal
Killdeer--29
Spotted Sandpiper--4
Solitary Sandpiper--2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Song Sparrow--2
Indigo Bunting--3
Eastern Meadowlark--2
Non-avian: LITTLE YELLOW (great spot by Jim B., state butterfly for all but Jim, photos), E. Tiger Swallowtails (inc. dark), Spicebush Swallowtail, Pearl Crescents, Silvery Checkerspots, Red-spotted Admirals, Common Green Darner, Common Pondhawk, Blue Dasher, Widow Skimmer, 12-spotted Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Spot-winged Glider. Tom caught an immature Black Rat Snake (photos). Eastern Painted Turtles (actively ruled out Midland).
The Yough--Old Morgantown Road
Mallard--12
COMMON LOON--1. * Unexpected find. Very pale, worn individual seen well, close, and briefly via scope, as the bird dove as a boat approached and we did not relocate it. Obvious large bill, neck markings also confirmed COLO.
Great Blue Heron--4
GREAT EGRET--1. * Scarce in the county. Bill's county closeout (#125).
Green Heron--5
Killdeer--86. Impressive count
Spotted Sandpiper--7
Solitary Sandpiper--4
Semipalmated Sandpiper--1
Least Sandpiper--3
STILT SANDPIPER--3. * Uncommon migrant. Three adults studied at close range and documented with photos.
Black-billed Cuckoo--2. Counter-singing
Ruby-throated Hummingbird--1
Belted Kingfisher--1
Eastern Wood-Pewee--1
Eastern Kingbird--2
Red-eyed Vireo--7
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher--2
Cedar Waxwing--4
Common Yellowthroat--2
Eastern Towhee--1
Scarlet Tanager--2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak--1. Adult male
Non-avian: Widow Skimmers, 12-spotted Skimmer, E. Tiger Swallowtail (inc. dark forms), Ruby Meadowhawk.
Trout Run WWTP
Wood Duck--8
Mallard--2
Great Blue Heron--1
American Kestrel--1
Killdeer--2
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Willow Flycatcher--5, family group
Eastern Kingbird--6, family group
Barn Swallow--2
House Wren--1
Common Yellowthroat--2
Chipping Sparrow--4
Song Sparrow--4
Bobolink--3
We also checked Broadford, Little Meadows, and Piney Reservoir. Nothing of note except Midland Painted Turtles scoped at the latter site.
Along I-68, at exit 45, we were surprised to see a large flock of pure white birds ahead, flying quickly over the highway in the distance. Were they Cattle Egrets? As we approached, we found them to be a confused-looking flock of about 50 pure white pigeons, probably released for a wedding. I think there might be a few more appropriate expressions of true love than dooming dozens of domestic birds.
PHOTOS: If interested, I've posted two pages of photos posted from a recent trip to Panama. Hope you enjoy.
http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20100721.php
http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20100719.php
Good birding!
Bill
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
http://www.billhubick.com |