Seen a short time swimming by the coot in small open area near spadderdock, 40' to the left of small newly created nextbox. - Kevin Graff   
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry 
 
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From:         "" <> 
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <> 
Date:         Tue, 3 May 2011 11:34:00  
To: <> 
Reply-To:      
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Purple Gallinule etc. today 
 
Hi all, 
 
After an unsuccessful chase yesterday evening, Barry and I arived to find a  
good contingent of Maryland's birders at Hughes Hollow and were  
informed (much to our delight) that the aforementioned Gallinule had  
JUST been seen, close to the road in and at the bottom of a small dirt  
path down to the impoundment. We walked down and almost  
immediately the bird flew, long legs dangling, into some spatterdock  
down amongst taller cattails. We had fair looks as the bird moved about,  
preened and called a couple of times, and we then relinquished our spots  
to newly-arriving twitchers.  
 
We stood talking a bit to friends, when Evelyn Ralston called us that the  
bird was now sitting up in plain view. And so it was, perched like some  
large, awkward purple blackbird on the tips of a cattail stalk, flapping,  
preening and pecking at the cattail tufts! Evelyn got some amazing photos  
which I hope she will share with all of us. This crippling view was the 
icing  
on the cake of a new state bird for both of us. We missed the one here in  
(I think) 2004 as we were out of the country. 
 
A short walk across the main dike garnered some raptors overhead  
(Red-tail, Broad-wing and two Cooper's), an unseen singing Prothonotary,  
and a Hooded Merg with 8-9 ducklings. 
 
We then drove down to Seneca and Violette's, where it was breezy, sunny  
and very quiet except for local breeders. We did see a RAVEN en route  
(one was reported from Hughes not long ago, where are they breeding?)  
as well as a singing Prairie Warbler. 
 
Good looks at Prothonotary at Seneca but otherwise, quiet and time to go  
home... 
 
Great morning, great bird! Thanks to Dave Powell for the May treat! 
 
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper 
Colesville, MD 
 
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