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Subject:

PG mid-winter count, Jug Bay area results

From:

Jeff Shenot

Reply-To:

Jeff Shenot

Date:

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:04:19 -0500

Yesterday was PG's md-winter count, and despite frigid temps I had a decent day.  The consistently low temps obviously affects waterfowl diversity negatively, driving away many puddle duck species to warmer climes.  And the marshes are all frozen as well, so marsh passerines are similarly diminished as well.  I birded along the Patuxent River and adjacent environs (public and private farm larm and forest lands) from Billingsley south to Merkle and had 71 species, with about ten expected species that were missed, but made up for by a few surprises.

Highlights were ten sparrow species, including first of season Am Tree Sparrows at two locations (Mt Calvert and Merkle), and White-crowned Sparrow (can be hard to get reliably in PG).  Nice to see the Tree Sparrows, first time since last winter, despite looking regularly for them in areas they are normally always found during winter.  Despite good numbers of gulls the last few days, I was unable to locate any uncommon species.  Best waterfowl find was 2 drake  Canvasbacks that blended well among a raft of Common Mergansers at mouth of Western Branch.  Another FOY was a Pine Warbler, found chipping in some pines at Selby's Landing.

I spent much of the afternoon looking for 3 winter owl species in good habitats (Short-ear, Long-ear, and Saw-whet) but had no success.  Not a surprise, I have yet to find any of them just by looking (no use of recordings), but hope to someday!  I tend to avoid using calls around here, since there are so many Barred and Great-horned Owls (it seems we have a high density, but I don't know what a normal density may be; they are both very common).  I think these two species may have a negative affect on other owls, due to their strong territorial tendencies (especially in breeding season - now), and probably even target as prey the smaller owls like the Saw-whet and Screechers.

Best species for the day was probably the continuing Black-capped Chickadees that have been over wintering at Jug Bay this year.

Best regards-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD