Dan Haas, Jim Brighton and I birded the marsh at Dent Rd in Anne Arundel 
County this evening, hoping for migrating Clapper Rails and any other 
marsh bird we could find. A fairly still night made for good listening 
conditions. The highlight was seeing at least seven Seaside Sparrows. 
All of them were seen in and around the vegetation along the shoreline. 
Many of them were actively feeding out in the open with Swamp Sparrows. 
We agreed it would be worthwhile to check this group year around to see 
how many months out of the year they're present.

Two other highlights were a singing Marsh Wren and two Virginia Rails 
grunting after nightfall.

Full list:

Canada Goose     20
Mute Swan     1
American Black Duck     2
Mallard     4
Red-breasted Merganser     24
duck sp.     5     Very distant and small. Possible RUDU or BUFF.
Great Blue Heron     4
Osprey     3
Bald Eagle     2
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Virginia Rail     2     Heard after sunset
American Coot     1
Greater Yellowlegs     2
Forster's Tern     2
Chimney Swift     1
Downy Woodpecker     1
crow sp.     1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     6
Carolina Chickadee     2
Tufted Titmouse     2
House Wren     1
Marsh Wren     1     Singing
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Eastern Bluebird     2
American Robin     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     3
Common Yellowthroat     4
Eastern Towhee     3
Seaside Sparrow     7     Probably more. Difficult to keep track of and count. Some were singing. Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/35144142@N04/5641730475/in/photostream
Swamp Sparrow     12
Northern Cardinal     1
Red-winged Blackbird     25     est
Common Grackle     1
American Goldfinch     3

Rob Ostrowski
Crofton, MD


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