Greetings!  Catching up on a belated mention of a couple good birds seen Friday afternoon here, plus this morning.  I was home Friday and around 2:40-3:20 pm I was watching the sky for raptors hoping for a Broadwing.  I saw a nice variety of raptors, the clear highlight was a Golden Eagle, and also a Common Loon.  I saw about 25 vultures, 5 Bald Eagles (2 ad., 3 im), 2 each of Sharpies and Coops, 4 Red-sh. and 5 Red-tls, and 2 Am Kestrels.  NO BW's and this is no surprise - they are hard to come by in PG now-a-days.  The Golden was seen well in the scope as it soared and circled passt.  It circled twice allowing a view of different angles and then soared on to the Northeast.  I was wondering if it would pass one of the hawkwatch sites to our north.   It was a sub-adult that was molting noticeably with mixed plumage, and with a clear view in the scope showed a fair amount of white in the underwings but still had a very dark overall appearance.  The white bar in the undertail was not obvious, but could be seen.  I would guess it was a basic 2 or 3-year bird by plumage (only guessing), and seemed a bit ragged.  It was seen soaring N at first, by itself, and I thought it was going to be a Vulture until I had it in my scope.  One of those (is that what I think it is moments?)!  As it was doing its second circle, an imm. Bald eagle that was much lower and over Jug Bay started coming up and over toward it, seeming intent on an interaction, but the Golden made a couple flaps and with the strong wind quickly soared to NE without any fuss.  I only saw it for about one minute.

I went out this morning for a 40 minute jaunt around the yard and was hoping to hit the lottery with an American Bittern, but had no fantastic luck with that!  One was seen around here a couple days ago (Jug Bay), and another was seen recently down near Merkle (Fenno Rd area) so thre may be one or two around, and chance favors a prepared mind, right?

The theme was yellow this morning, spring has sprung.  I finally had a new warbler species (in addition to Yellow-rumped W and C Yellowthroat) ... I saw a gorgeous bright male Yellow W, and 6 (!) Yellow Palm W's.   There was also clearly a flight of Swamp Sparrows, as the swamp behind the house is loaded.  I heard 5+ singing, and saw many foraging in the currently flooded scrub-shrub wetland.  Yesterday's rain and winds have the water level at Jug Bay very high today.

In a little while I'm going to bird the Critical Area Driving Tour (starts at Selby's Landing in Patuxent River Park and ends at Merkle; only open Sundays), and then down the river further to see what else I can find.  If anyone is in the area and wants to bird together give me a call or send an email.

The gates to CADT are supposed to open at 10 am and I will probably get to Selby's between 10-10:30.

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD

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