Hi Everyone,

My wife Becky and I went for a walk at Fort Smallwood Park this afternoon and enjoyed a couple unexpected highlights. A juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was foraging near the wet meadow across from the old stone battery. We heard its gravelly calls and then tracked it down as it moved among the snags. Continuing on, we approached the growing flock of COMMON GRACKLEs as they gathered to roost. (This is a very consistent migration/wintering area for grackles, and the flock generally exceeds 2,000 birds throughout the winter.) Out on the periphery was a singing male RUSTY BLACKBIRD, my first of the season, which we easily tracked down and enjoyed watching in the late afternoon light. Matt Grey was able to cruise over and enjoy both birds. There were also a couple BLACKPOLL WARBLERs continuing near the pond. A few tend to linger here in the same favorite patches each year.

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com

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