Hi Everyone,

I spent most of the weekend birding north-central Maryland with John Hubbell. Our focus was on finding Black-capped Chickadees, but we covered a variety of habitats. We spent Saturday in northern Carroll and Frederick, and then spent today in Harford and Cecil Counties. I also did some Carroll Co. birding with Bob Ringler in the afternoon yesterday.

Although both days were enjoyable and productive, the advance of Black-caps in the areas we visited was very limited. Making dozens of stops over two days, choosing ideal habitats in the northern parts of each county, we found Black-capped Chickadees at only four locations: Hashawha Environmental Center (Carroll Co.), Bullfrog Road (Frederick Co.), Eden Mill (Harford Co.), and Perryville Community Park (Cecil Co.). Our efforts were more exhaustive in some areas than others. In Frederick, we stopped at many wooded edges in the northeastern corner of the state, but we never went as far west as the Catoctins. We covered a large number of sites in Carroll County between Piney Run and Taneytown. 

On Saturday, we made a good call by doing dawn at Eden Mill, as we found a few Black-capped Chickadees rather easily here. Having lucked out early, we didn't spend much time checking other wooded areas in the county. We decided to visit northwestern Cecil via Conowingo, as John needed Black-capped in the county. We spent most of the morning birding edge habitats near the Susquehanna River and near the PA border. The birding was decent, but we were surprised to find flock after flock with only Carolinas. By noon, we'd decided to spend more time on waterbirds and headed to Perryville. We joked that we'd make one final, obstinate stop if we heard any songbirds on the drive into the park. We heard a wren calling, stopped, did some pishing, and literally one bird came in. I just shook my head when it was a Black-capped Chickadee. John was pretty pleased with that. 

We have documentation photos for all individuals observed. As chickadees make their way south (and especially on the coastal plain), please try to get notes, documentation photos, and/or audio recordings. Records are rare on the coastal plain even during irruption years, and become especially so as you head south and east. 

Although it's hard to guess what's going to happen with this invasion, we saw little evidence of it gaining momentum yet. I guess we'll see with each passing front.

Other birds of interest over the weekend:

- 24 Rusty Blackbirds at Brown Road in Carroll Co. (11/6)
- A flyby Merlin at Piney Run Park (11/6)
- One Pine Siskin at Hashawha (11/6), small numbers of Purple Finches throughout.
- Saturday afternoon's strong northerly winds had large numbers of raptors on the move. We spent a couple hours hawk-watching, including an enjoyable hour on the PA/MD line at Bullfrog Road (Frederick). eBird says I got six state birds.

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com