Hi all,
John Hubbell, Bill Hubick, and I got an early start unsuccessfully
trying a few spots in Calvert and St. Mary's for Northern Saw-whet
Owl. We then joined Mikey Lutmerding at Point Lookout SP where we
enjoyed spectacular birding for the rest of the day. We began with a
big flight of Common Loons and Northern Gannets at the point along
with many ducks including all three scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Common
Goldeneye, Wood Ducks etc. Mikey and Bill also heard a flyover Dunlin.
Once the morning flight died down a little, we began working the
point and picnic areas for land birds. Our biggest highlight of the
day came at about 8:20 when from the picnic area parking lot Mikey
spotted two Cave Swallows. They were flying north from the point and
we wondered whether they might have been roosting at the lighthouse.
Two Cave Swallows (presumably the same two) were later seen by Patty
Craig flying north up the Potomac. She also viewed them from the
picnic area so perhaps they are staying near the point.
Our focus switched to re-finding and documenting the Cave
Swallows. However, our efforts were interrupted by Mikey spotting our
next big highlight: a flyover Western Kingbird (also headed north).
Unfortunately only Mikey and John got decent looks and we could not
refind this bird.
Our final big highlight of the day was an Orange-crowned Warbler
in the picnic area parking lot about mid afternoon.
We stayed in or around Point Lookout all day trying to re-find the
birds or other rarities. Other highlights include (at PLSP unless
otherwise specified):
Cattle Egret (Long Neck Rd)
Sanderling
American Pipit (large flock on Long Neck Rd)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Cornfield Harbor Rd)
Blue-headed Vireo
Pine Warbler
Vesper Sparrow (Cornfield Harbor Rd)
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
We also had some odes and leps still flying: Rambur's Forktail, Autumn
Meadowhawk, Green Darner, Sleepy Orange, Cloudless Sulphur, Monarch,
Buckeye, Red Admiral, Checkered Skipper, etc.
Mike Ostrowski
North Bethesda, MD
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38976602@N05/ |