Forgot to mention the numerous Fox Sparrows N. Flickers, and N. Mockingbirds on our sector as well.
-----Original Message-----
From: Warblerick <>
To:
Sent: Sat, Dec 18, 2010 8:41 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Triadelphia CBC
Hi all,
My daughter Alli, Mark Wimer, and I covered a portion of Area 6 for Jay
heppard for the Triadelphia CBC, covering the old Oaks landfill and Blue Mash
n Laytonsville.
Before sunup we met Jay at the Sunshine store where he gave us the gate key for
he landfill. We were able to drive to the top of the landfill (in the dark,
re-dawn), where we watched 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting over the property. There
ay actually have been a couple more, but as they glided over the hill and out
f sight, to reappear later, we were only able to see 4 at a time. This is the
ighest number of SEOW's I have seen in Montgomery County in one place. At one
oint they were flying right over our heads!
Just after dawn we began our hike around Blue Mash, where we had good numbers of
ots of sparrows, including at least 6 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, immature
hite-crowned ,Swamp, Song, Savannah, White-throated, and Dark-eyed Junco, as
ell as a number of Towhees. We also had 2 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, a single
ermit Thrush, several Bluebirds (rather low), huge flocks of Robins and
axwings feeding on the numerous crab apples still clinging to the trees, but
nly a single Yellow-rumped Warbler. We had a few surprising misses, including
ot a single Canada Goose (and I thought this was impossible in MoCo), and no
hite-breasted Nuthatch.
It was an outstanding day from start to finish, with good company and great
irds, and the weather was very cooperative too (unlike last year).
.S. If you try for the owls, I would suggest parking in the small gravel lot
long the entrance to the old landfill on Rt. 108, pre-dawn or after dusk. Good
uck.
est to all,
Rick Sussman
oodbine,MD |