Hi evrybody: 

I spent Sunday, July 3rd mostly on the western shore. I picked an indirect route birding rural roads in Charles County eventually making my way to the Swarey Place Dickcissels found the previous day by Mike and Robert Ostrowski. 

On Keech Road I heard one Hooded and two Kentucky Warblers singing. As soon as I pulled over at the Rt. 6/ Swarey Place intersection I heard one DICKCISSEL singing in the field on the west side of Swarey Place. I eventually saw the second dickcissel perched up and singing as well. (Thanks Rob and Mike!). While here I also heard Grasshopper Sparrows, Saw a pair of Horned Larks and had a Rock Pigeon (not always an easy bird in Charles County) land on a nearby dirt pile. I had no luck with the previously reported Miss. Kite on DuBois Rd.

I eventually worked my way over into Calvert County and decided I would walk some of the trails in the American Chestnut Land Trust to try and avoid some of the heat in the middle of the day. I selected an area I had never been before and had a pleasant and productive 3 1/2 mile loop walk. I entered the ACLT off of Rt. 402 and went SE on Double Oak Rd. to the parking lot and trailhead. I walked Turkey Trail to Parkers Creek Trail to Double Oak Road Trail to Double Oak Lane Trail and back to the parking lot. It was a pleasant hike and fairly cool in the forest. There were alot of warblers singing and chipping, especially along the Turkey Trail. I was in the ACLT from 1 PM to 3PM. Highlights of the walk:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Red-eyed Vireos          18  (seemed to be everywhere)
Yellow-throated Vireo  1 (heard near the parking lot when I first pulled in and also 2 hours later at the end of the hike)
Acadian Flycatcher       5
Wood Thrush              12 ( and could have easily have been more)
Northern Parula           2
Ovenbird                     11
Hooded Warbler          1
Kentucky Warbler        4
Worm-eating Warbler  3
Scarlet Tanager           5

On the way home I was headed towards the 495 Beltway on Rt. 4. Just before the exit for Rt. 301 I had a MISSISSIPPI KITE soar across the road approximately 150 feet above me. I quickly got off the exit and from the Rt. 301 Giant Foods parking lot was able to get one more quick glimpse of the kite before it disappeared in a northwesterly direction. It was much higher when I last saw it.

work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!! AND ENJOY YOUR 4TH OF july!!!

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