I spent an hour late this afternoon at Governor Bridge just because I
desperately needed to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather. I
didn't expect too much, and didn't find too much, but the raptor show was
nice. I met Dan Haas as he was leaving--thanks for the tip about the Merlin!
When I emerged into the large open field I scanned the sky and found the
Merlin harrassing a larger raptor at fairly high altitude. The larger raptor
swooped down low and gave good views, revealing itself to be a Broad-Winged
Hawk. The Barred Owl called twice in the hour or so I was there. Chimney
Swifts were present the whole time but increased in number later in the
evening. A lone Cedar Waxwing was hanging out with a group of Phoebes and
flycatching with them for the duration. The Phoebes kept flying off and the
Waxwing would follow. It was kind of cute, actually, like it was saying, "Be
my friend!" eBird report below.

-Jake Hall
 College Park, MD


Location:     Governor Bridge Natural Area
Observation date:     9/17/10
Number of species:     27

Osprey     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Broad-winged Hawk     1
Merlin     1
Mourning Dove     10
Barred Owl     1
Chimney Swift     100
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     1
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
Downy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     1
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Eastern Phoebe     4
Blue Jay     3
Carolina Chickadee     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Carolina Wren     10
American Robin     5
Gray Catbird     15
Northern Mockingbird     1
Cedar Waxwing     1
Common Yellowthroat     3
Eastern Towhee     1
Northern Cardinal     3
Common Grackle     10
American Goldfinch     5