Hi all --

Warmth and sunshine -- a nice combination for the last day of February.
While Barry went up to Baltimore to start his gull survey, I wandered over
to Brookside Gardens and adjacent Wheaton Regional Park. It was nice to see
the first daffodils and all the Witch Hazels in bloom.

Almost the first bird I saw was a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE at the Brookside
Nature Center feeders; it was with a small flock of Carolinas. This is the
first B-C we've seen here although we have been diligently checking these
feeders every time we visit the park. The Gardens and park were alive with
noisy Robins, Grackles and Song Sparrows. In the Gardens proper, a nice
flock of seven FOX SPARROWS and two male RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.  On Pine Lake, a
single male BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a female WOOD DUCK amongst the Canadas and
Mallards. 

Other signs of spring were the pair of Bluebirds checking out one of the
nest boxes; nice to hear the male singing away. A bright male Red-shouldered
Hawk fed a frog to a female; two immatures from last year's brood (?) were
also nearby. A Red-Tailed Hawk was doing an apparent display flight over the
woods to an unseen female.

Some surprising misses too -- an early Phoebe would have been expected, no
sign of the Kingfishers and despite quite a bit of walking, no sign (visual
or aural) of any White-throated Sparrows. However they are still at our
feeders at the house.

Birds seen (31 spp.):

Canada Goose - 28
Mallard - 10
Blue-winged Teal - 1 male
Wood Duck - 1 female
Red-shouldered Hawk - 4
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
Turkey Vulture - 3
Ring-billed Gull - 1
Mourning Dove - 7
Downy Woodpecker - 5
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 1
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 12
Tufted Tit - 6
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Carolina Wren - 6 (most heard only)
American Robin - 150 (estimate)
Eastern Bluebird - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 2
European Starling - 25 (est.)
Song Sparrow - 2
FOX SPARROW - 7
Dark-eyed Junco - 8
Northern Cardinal - 12
Common Grackle - 200 (estimated)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD _ 2 males
Red-winged Blackbird - 12
House Finch - 3
American Goldfinch - 10

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

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