Frank Marenghi and I got an early start today (10:30ish AM) ; )  What
can I say?  I had a gig last night, got home at 2 and my kids were at
their Grandparents... so my 'regular' alarm clocks weren't there to
wake me up.

Regardless of the time, I picked up Frank and we set out to our first
stop: North Beach.  We didn't stay too long, and have nothing to
report aside from the previously mentioned singing Marsh Wren and two
Semipalmated Sandpipers.

From there, we headed West over to the Patuxent, stopping first at
Sands Road Park.  The breeders were out in good numbers: Indigo
Buntings, Field Sparrows, Bank Swallows, Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper
Sparrows (one heard, but the rest were rather quiet), Yellow-breasted
Chats and Meadowlarks to name a few.  Fledgling Field Sparrows were
scattering about just past the parking area. No Dickcissels... yet!

A bit later, we visited Wooten's Landing. Again we were greeted by
breeders and their fledglings.  This time it was an young Orchard
Oriole being tended to by their parents.  Two Baltimore Orioles, two
Yellow-billed Cuckoos (one seen flying, the other continued calling
from the river), Chats, Common Yellowthroats, Wood Duck, Indigo
Buntings, a Belted Kingfisher, and Prothonotary and Yellow Warblers
were enjoyed.

One other notable sighting from Wooten's Landing:  a falcon bolted
over us heading due North in a bit of hurry.  The bird flew by us low
and quite fast. It was too big for a Kestrel, but smaller than what
I'd expect for a Peregrine.  The overall dark impression might have
been an affect of the mid-day light. This falcon had a determined
flight that reminded me of a MERLIN. Wing beats were, in my opinion,
faster than the Peregrines which I view on a regular basis near my
home. That said, the likely species was PEFA, a small male... but I
can't rule out a very late Merlin.

On the way home, we took Governor Bridge Road back towards Annapolis.
We stopped off at a marsh off St. George Barber Road.  It is a creek
that feeds into the South River and there are loads of old, dead
trees.  This location always looked like it'd be a great breeding spot
for Red-headed Woodpecker.  We didn't turn up any during our brief
visit, but a calling SUMMER TANAGER was the final highlight of our
day.

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
St. Margaret's, MD
nervousbirdsatgmail.com

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

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