Sorry for late post; original was bounced back for some reason. I was also at Wheaton Regional Park yesterday morning, for an hour before work. I didn't see anybody else except for the ubiquitous Park employees mowing the grass (which didn't really need it). They have been mowing there EVERY time I've been there!
I have only been there a few times and do not know the site well, but it seems to be very good for migrant passerines. I started off at the parking lot (by the carousel/train station), and was quickly surprised by an Olive-sided Flycatcher perched in a snag near the lot (not the big oak with previous reports of OSFLs, but another snag near it). It was there briefly before being chased away by a flicker, who remained vigilant.
Then it was awfully quiet for about a half hour until I came across one little group of birds. Before I found them I saw a total of only about 30 birds, all year-round residents. The patch of migrants saved the morning, but seemed to be holdovers from the last time I was here. They had nearly the same composition and were in the same general area as last week; hard to say how long a group may stay around, but if its the same birds they have been there at least a week.
The best surprise of the day was a WINTER WREN (FOS). It was seen well at close range, and was completely silent. It was near 3 Carolina Wrens that were very active and vocal, but was not associating with them. It was foraging actively in thick brush near the ground, and also near a big group of branches and woody debris.
Highlights- Pied-billed Grebe- 1 (on Pine Lake) OSFL- 1 (mentioned above) Great-crested FL- 1 (calling repeatedly and foraging in top of canopy along woods margin) No other flycatchers! White-eyed Vireo- 1 (only 1!) Red-eyed Vireo- 1 (only 1!) Winter Wren- 1 (mentioned above) Warblers (6 spp.; 8 birds)- Chestnut-sided 1; Maggie 1; B&W 2; Redstart 1 (nice adult male); Yellowthroat 2; Canada 1.
Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD
############################
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 |