I did a trip up to western maryland, for my first time birding there in breeding season.   I did one of the routes for the Audubon's IBA study (Westernport Rd), and did some birding afterward.  The weather was not favorable for birding, with variable winds, occasional rain, and very cool temps (the high temp while I was there from Thursday eve - Sat eve was only 63!).

Highlights were 96 species of presumed breeders or at least birds I observed that were not migrating, and are known to breed there.  Highlights included great abundance of grassland birds (best was Henslow's Sparrow, but also had Bobolinks at many locations, and several stops with Savannahs), 15 warblers (Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-breasted Chat).  I thporoughly enjoyed listening to the numerous Veeries and Hermit Thrushes!  Misses included Dickcissel (they seem to be everywhere else!), no owl or rail; Upland Sandpiper (I spent 2.5 hours looking in Red House and Pleasant Valley areas); Golden-winged Warbler (I looked all over in many places they have been reported, at various times of day, with no luck); about 10 other warblers that I am unfamiliar with for Allegany and Garrett, but may be breeders.

Most interesting sight was my all-time high personal count for Common Raven (12+).  I was at Mt Nebo, and heard several.  As I walked a trail and was headed in their direction (not looking for them, but coincidentally headed that way), I rounded a bend and saw some in a tree.  I got within about 75 yards before one saw me and after only about 2 seconds it croaked and left.  Then they all got up, and I was shocked.  It was hard to see them all at once, and the most I could see at one time was 12, but I could hear a couple others calling from somewhere behind me and out of view while I had 12 in view at once.  It was really spectacular, they were very vocal and animated.  They circled around me for about 2 minutes raising a big ruckus, and then slowly most of them departed, while a few stayed in the vicinity.

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD

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