Hi Folks,

With no school today (Tue., 9/14), I was able to conduct an early
morning survey of the Swan Creek/Cox Creek facility at the end of
Kembo Rd. in AA Co. (near Key Bridge).  The place was as good as I had
ever seen it; it isn't noted as a warbler spot, but I had ten species
this a.m.

Best bird of the outing was a surprise UPLAND SANDPIPER standing on a
muddy barrier between two sub-pools of the north dredge cell.  While I
was attempting to get some video of the bird it took off and almost
flew over my head as it steered toward Ft. Armistead and then inland.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was also in the north cell along with a few
Semipal. and Least Sandpipers.

The TRICOLORED HERON continutes now into its sixth week in the
mitigated wetland, and a brightly plumaged juvenile NORTHERN HARRIER
worked the western wetland extensively, at one point interacting with
the one Osprey in the area.

I spent an extended time along the powerlines and western edge of the
western wetland.  Here the activity was the best I'd ever seen, with
highlights being LEAST FLYCATCHER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, and PRAIRIE
WARBLER, all three new for my property list.

The mitigated wetland also hosted five WESTERN PALM WARBLERs.  Young
BLUE GROSBEAKs are all over the entire property, and I tallied 13 of
them today.

Yesterday I had another stellar outing at Patuxent Ponds Park south of
Odenton, where I spent nearly two hours after school.  Warblers were
good and besides finding a TENNESSEE and a BAY-BREASTED, I finally was
able to nab my first county MOURNING WARBLER, which I had chased here
on several occasions during the past two springs, without success.

From this park I headed to the Severn Run Environmental Area on Dicus
Mill Rd. in Millersville.  About a mile west of the park, in a pasture
on the south side of the road was a single CATTLE EGRET hanging out
with a few cows, the first I've seen in several weeks.  Severn Run
itself had mostly common birds during my short visit, but a
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was my third in the county within four days.
 Shades of Mississippi Kites in the spring!

Best to all,

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)
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