Hi Everyone,
I went for what I suppose I'll still call a run around Fort Smallwood this afternoon, though I stopped for birds more often than one should when claiming to be exercising. But I have an excuse. There were real live shorebirds at Fort Smallwood for the second time in a week. Aside from the nice birds, my non-avian highlight was a LITTLE YELLOW (irruptive butterfly species; recent photo: http://www.billhubick.com/images2/little_yellow_calvert_md_20101002.jpg), my first at the park. Matt Grey has seen them off and on for a few weeks.
Full eBird list:
Canada Goose--23
Mallard--13
Mallard (Domestic type)--1
Double-crested Cormorant--7
Great Blue Heron--2
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER--6. * Late. Scarce. Nearly to the latest date for SEPL in eBird (Arnold, Carlson at Swan Creek on 10/13/2009). Well seen at close range while they foraged on the southernmost beach. My latest in the county, but I have two November records in Maryland (latest was 11/3/06 at North Branch, Allegany).
SOLITARY SANDPIPER--1. Juvenile feeding in an open area in the wet meadows, one of this species favored locations at the park. On the late side, but expected in small numbers. We should probably loosen the eBird filters for October SOSA. First detected by single note calls when I'd approached too closely for its tastes.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER--1. Juvenile foraging on the southernmost beach with six SEPL. Only my third at the park, but not my latest (2 on 10/25/2007).
Laughing Gull--28. Feeding flock near the stone battery. Looked like they might be feeding on flying insects; there were many around the wet meadow.
Ring-billed Gull--8
Herring Gull (American)--4
Great Black-backed Gull--12
gull sp.--10
Mourning Dove--3
Chimney Swift--7
Red-bellied Woodpecker--3
Downy Woodpecker--2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--2
Blue Jay--3
Carolina Chickadee--1
Tufted Titmouse--2
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH--1. Calling in the woods near the wet meadow.
Carolina Wren--1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1
Eastern Bluebird--4
American Robin--1
Northern Mockingbird--3
European Starling--15
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)--6
Palm Warbler (Western)--2. Foraging on the ground near the wet meadow.
Blackpoll Warbler--2. Two at the northeastern corner of the pond, exactly where I saw the two on 10/5. Nearly my latest in the county.
Chipping Sparrow--4
Song Sparrow--13
Swamp Sparrow--1
Northern Cardinal--4
Red-winged Blackbird--4
Common Grackle--4. Recent arrivals? I haven't seen a COGR around here since 8/18, though I admit I haven't actively looked. One perched at the top of a dead snag appeared to be a Bronzed, but I couldn't feel comfortable with the light. My earliest confirmed by photos in the county/state was 10/26/08.
House Finch--5
American Goldfinch--1
Non-avian: LITTLE YELLOW (1), Variegated Fritillary (5), Spicebush Swallowtail (2), Sachem (20), Common Buckeye (20), Orange Sulfur (10), Cabbage White (5). Spring Peepers calling a little near the pond. Sunning N. Red-bellied Turtles.
Good birding,
Bill
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
http://www.billhubick.com |