I had a good afternoon kayaking at Jug Bay and then visiting Merkle WMA.  The water at Jug Bay was extraordinarily high and allowed me to get into places that are usually inaccessible.  I started at Jackson Landing and kayaked north to the marsh near Mt. Calvert and Western Branch.  Highlights included one male Least Bittern seen in flight north of Jackson Landing and one female Red-breasted Merganser in the marsh north of Mt. Calvert.  Also notable were a total of 8 American Coots scattered throughout the marsh, singing Marsh Wren, and a large group of swallows (Barn, Tree, and Bank) that at one point were swirling all around me.  Warblers were slow and included only Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and Yellow Warbler.  Osprey are nesting on virtually every platform and one Bald Eagle flew over.

I went to Merkle after finishing kayaking.  The pond behind the visitors center had 24 Least Sandpipers, 1 breeding plumage Dunlin, and 1 Semipalmated Plover.  The fields held two Eastern Meadowlarks, and several Grasshopper Sparrows, while Purple Martins and Tree Swallows flew overhead.  I made a brief stop at Governor Bridge Natural Area on my way home.  2 Yellow-breasted Chats were singing, as was an adult Orchard Oriole.  Also present were several Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, a Great-crested Flycatcher, and a pair of Wood Ducks.  A Barred Owl called several times as I was leaving.

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel

############################

To unsubscribe from the MDOSPREY list:
write to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
or click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MDOSPREY&A=1