I visited Rocky Gorge Reservoir late this afternoon and hiked a short distance along the perimeter of the lake.  The highlight was five Common Ravens that performed quite an aerial display over the dam, with lots of twists, turns, dives, and chases.  Some of the ravens also perched in a dead tree just beyond the dam before disappearing from view on the south side of the river/lake.   I struck out on Cliff Swallows today, but other birds seen or heard included several singing Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Wood Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Osprey, Double-crested Cormorants, and a few very vocal Wild Turkeys.

Yesterday afternoon (June 3) I kayaked south from Cedar Haven, past Eagle Harbor, and towards Chalk Point.  It was a beautiful afternoon, but slow bird wise.  However, I did see both Osprey and Double-crested Cormorants carrying nesting material over the river.  The osprey appeared to be using a tower near the power plant, while the cormorant carried its fairly large stick in the direction of the tall utility towers in the river to the south.  However, I lost track of the bird over the fairly large expanse of water and was unable to determine where it took its stick.  I thought about paddling out to the towers to see if there was any activity among all the cormorants there, but it was further than I thought and over quite an open expanse of water, and I decided not to attempt the round trip.  I was pretty tired and sunburned when I arrived back in Cedar Haven as it was.  Good birding,

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel

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