I attended the annual joint field trip of the Patuxent Bird Club, Prince George's Audubon Society and Southern Maryland Audubon Society.  An incredible 19 people attended and we visited several spots along the Patuxent River in Prince George's County.  Highlights included a 1st summer Little Blue Heron near Jackson Landing (on the Prince George's County side of the river), a female Red-breasted Merganser at Jug Bay, and several new spring arrivals such as White-eyed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Acadian Flycatcher.  Some of the highlights from each stop are noted below.

Mt. Calvert - this stop was very productive as there were a lot of birds singing on the mansion grounds and surrounding woodlands and marsh.  An adult female Orchard Oriole worked one of the trees near the historic site.  Two Brown Thrashers were in the grass on the slope of the hill leading down to the river.  Shorebirds seen included Greater Yellowlegs and one Wilson's Snipe.  And, we had one singing White-eyed Vireo and a Yellow Warbler.  Also of note was an Eastern Phoebe and Indigo Bunting.  As usual, Osprey were numerous and one or two Bald Eagles passed overhead.  A flock of Cedar Waxwings were also present.

Patuxent River Park - we viewed the marsh near Jackson Landing and then walked the trail to the observation platform.  The marsh had 4 Great Egrets, 10 or so Great Blue Herons, and several Osprey and Bald Eagles.  A 1st summer Little Blue Heron was present on a log along the river near the visitors' center.  This bird was one of the highlights for the day and gave everyone great views.  The mudflats opposite of Jackson Landing had 14 Lesser Yellowlegs and 4 or 5 Greater Yellowlegs.  Along or near the entrance road we heard Ovenbirds, one Hooded Warbler, an Acadian Flycatcher, and a Wood Thrush.  The walk out to the observation platform took us by several White-eyed Vireos, one or two Northern Parula, and a singing Scarlet Tanager.  A female Red-breasted Merganser, several cormorants, and both yellowlegs were seen from the platform.  We also had a calling Great-crested Flycatcher at this location.

Merkle WMA - this stop was fairly slow, but we did have lots of Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, two Brown Thrashers, and one Lesser Yellowlegs.  We also got brief views of one Grasshopper Sparrow.  Chipping Sparrows and bluebirds were numerous.  The yellowlegs was the only shorebird seen at the pond.  The wind was also picking up at this point, which also may have kept activity down.

Milltown Landing - this stop was also slow, perhaps due to the time (we were there at mid-day).  However, we got good views of several Savannah Sparrows, one singing Field Sparrow, and most saw a singing Prairie Warbler.  Also of note were lots of Tree Swallows over the fields and a pair of White-eyed Vireos.  Double-crested Cormorants were on the river and a few Laughing Gulls flew by.

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel

############################

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