Hi Everyone,

Ed Carlson and I did some local Anne Arundel Co. birding today (9/11), including a survey of Swan Creek. We started at Fort Smallwood, where the huge volume of debris washed into the Bay covered the shoreline and created vast rafts farther out. At Fort Smallwood, Swan Creek, and Weinberg Park, the most common migrants today were AMERICAN REDSTART and MAGNOLIA WARBLER. Other birds of interest at Fort Smallwood were three ROYAL TERNs and one each of House Wren, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Swan Creek was slow in the heat of the afternoon, but held a few birds of note. A BLACK TERN dropped into the north cell for just minutes before returning to the Chesapeake Bay. The best shorebirds were two SANDERLINGs, one juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER, and three flyby, calling PECTORAL SANDPIPERs. Tucked in among many dabbling ducks were a GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a NORTHERN SHOVELER, and a hen NORTHERN PINTAIL. Ed spotted a DUNLIN, the first of season here, before I arrived.

A WESTERN PALM WARBLER along the wooded edge near the south cell was the first of fall for the local area. It was a reminder that although migration has been on for months, of course, fall is really on its way.

Some recent photos:
http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20110911.php

*** NOTE: Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open ONLY Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be in your car and leaving at 3:30 p.m.. Remember to always sign in at the office, to be on your best behavior (people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to permitted areas. This Swan Creek map linked here details where you are and aren't allowed to walk. http://www.billhubick.com/docs/swan_creek_map.jpg. ***

Good birding,

Bill 

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com

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