Hi Everyone,

I had planned to do an afternoon Bay-watch at Fort Smallwood, but migrant activity along the pond edge immediately convinced me to invest more time on land birds. As I stepped from my car, there was a large flock of House Finches, Myrtles, and Palm Warblers actively feeding along the beach. Among these were a juvenile WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, two BLACKPOLLs, and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. I considered putting away my scope, but decided that a quick check of the pond is always advisable. Good thing! On the tiny island there were two birds - a DUNLIN and a female GREEN-WINGED TEAL. The Dunlin was my first at the park, and one of my few in the county.

Matt Grey arrived quickly to enjoy the Dunlin, and then joined me for some land-birding. Activity was consistent, and between a couple flocks we landed a surprising variety of birds. Among these were two PINEs, the first WHITE-THROATED SPARROW here this fall, and best of all, great looks at a TENNESSEE WARBLER. This beauty was followed immediately by a very unexpected YELLOW WARBLER, my latest ever in Maryland.

Canada Goose--25
Green-winged Teal (American)--1. Hen on the small island in the pond
Double-crested Cormorant--14
Great Blue Heron--1
DUNLIN--1. * Rare at location. My first at the park and one of my very few records in the county. Documentation photos.
Laughing Gull--1--Juvenile
Ring-billed Gull--4
Herring Gull (American)--6
Great Black-backed Gull--3
gull sp.--5
Mourning Dove--1
Red-bellied Woodpecker--1
Downy Woodpecker--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--1
Eastern Phoebe--1
Blue Jay--7
Carolina Chickadee--3
White-breasted Nuthatch--2
Carolina Wren--1
House Wren--1
Golden-crowned Kinglet--1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1
Eastern Bluebird--6
Northern Mockingbird--3
European Starling--6
TENNESSEE WARBLER--1. * Scarce. 
YELLOW WARBLER--1. * My latest ever in Maryland. 
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--19
Pine Warbler--2
Palm Warbler (Western)--2
Palm Warbler (Yellow)--7
Blackpoll Warbler--2
Chipping Sparrow--10
Field Sparrow--1
Song Sparrow--4
White-throated Sparrow--1
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)--1. Juvenile. First of season here. My earliest in Anne Arundel Co. by 9 days.
Northern Cardinal--4
House Finch--13
American Goldfinch--3

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com