Howdy, 

I spent a few hours wading through grasses growing in the Youghiogheny Reservoir lake bed- the habitat more resembles a prairie than a good-sized body of water. Warbler numbers were still high, but lacking in variety. Yellow-Rumped and Palm warblers were most numerous, but I also found a CHESTNUT-SIDED and BLACKPOLL. 

Several raptors were present, and all were very active. A MERLIN had it's hands full taking on a first-year BALD EAGLE and a pair of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS simultaneously. Two RED-TAILED HAWKS made counting crows a challenge by repeatedly stirring flocks. 

Two YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were heard from the woods; sparrows were omnipresent, skulking in the tall grasses; PIPITS were feeding in the shortest grasses; and an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was hooting in a thicket. 

I've updated my photos at the link below. 

Good birding!
Matt

Matt Tillett
Cumberland, MD
www.flickr.com/photos/mattyfioner/


Location:    Youghiogheny Res.--Old Morgantown Road
Observation date:    10/10/10
Number of species:    36

Common Merganser    8
Turkey Vulture    4
Bald Eagle    2
Cooper's Hawk    2
Red-shouldered Hawk    1
Broad-winged Hawk    6
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)    2
Merlin    1
Killdeer    26
Mourning Dove    2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo    2
Eastern Screech-Owl    1
Belted Kingfisher    1
Red-bellied Woodpecker    1
Downy Woodpecker    1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)    3
Eastern Phoebe    1
Blue Jay    3
American Crow    160
Black-capped Chickadee    8
Tufted Titmouse    2
White-breasted Nuthatch    2
House Wren    3
European Starling    12
American Pipit    5
Cedar Waxwing    4
Chestnut-sided Warbler    1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)    10
Palm Warbler (Western)    2
Blackpoll Warbler    1
Eastern Towhee    1
Song Sparrow    9
Swamp Sparrow    4
White-throated Sparrow    2
White-crowned Sparrow    1
American Goldfinch    8