Hi Everybody:
I spent the majority of the day visiting different locations in St. Mary's County. I arrived at the St. Mary's Airport about 4:30 AM to listen for whips and chucks around the airport. I was not disappointed. I heard one CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW on Airport Road. On Airport View Road I heard 2 WHIP-POOR-WILLS. Once I was behind the airport on Lawrence Hayden Road I heard at least one more Chuck. Birds were actively singing on this last road. Predawn vocalizing included several Yellow-breasted Chats, Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrow and Acadian Flycatcher. I also heard 3 different BARRED OWLS calling and hooting in the distance.
One interesting sighting was at one of the businesses along Airport View Rd where there was a spotlight on above the main entrance doors. At first i thought I was hearing Common Nighthawks. When I parked in their lot and got out of the car I counted at least 5 N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS all flying within 20 feet of the ground and sometimes swooping very low. They were calling very loudly and appeared to be feeding on flying insects that were illuminated by the spotlight on the building. I had never previously seen active feeding by swallows prior to daylight.
I then headed for Elms Park and made several stops along Bay Forest Rd. Highlights here were 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS and 4 SUMMER TANAGERS - all singing males. Two were singing their usual song and 2 were singing their dawn variation. When I reached the gated entrance to the park I realized that they would not be opening the gate for another 45 minutes so I opted not to wait and moved on.
There were three CATTLE EGRETS on Long Neck Road in the field with the cattle.
When I arrived at Point Lookout St. Pk. just after 7 AM there were already lots of fisherman along the causeway and at the point, and alot more families at the beach area. I scanned around the point but did not produce anything unexpected. I spent 30 minutes walking around the fort area and saw and then heard 1 VEERY.
In succession, I drove Cornfield Harbor Rd and Dr, Beachville Rd and walked around St. Inginoes County Park and found only potential breeders. I then drove over to Beauvue and spent some time on Abell's Wharf Road. Highlights included 4 BLUE GROSBEAKS and 8 GRASHOPPER SPARROWS. I did not see or hear any Dickcissels. I also did not see any of the Mute Swans in the ponds.
I found a singing HOODED WARBLER in Chaptico Park and one KENTUCKY WARBLER near the stream crossing on Davis Road.
I then headed over into Charles County via Budds Creek Rd. I spent some fruitless time at Allens Fresh. Between the high water and the excessive traffic there were very few birds to be seen or heard. I spent an hour driving around Cobb Island but did not add anything interesting to my list. I then headed home.
Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD
work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!
P.S. Shortly after arriving home I saw the posts about the Hughes Hollow Mississippi Kite. hen I arrived there just before 7 PM there were 7 other birders there who had been looking for the Kite, some since 4 PM. There was no spotting of the Kite the rest of the evening. There were two flyover YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS while I was there.
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