On Saturday I had only the morning to bird, so I decided to look for some
of the great Washington County birds found by Jim Green and company on 5/23.
It was a very enjoyable morning with a few new county birds.
I started early to avoid traffic on Broadfording Road, but the patchy fog
made seeing birds difficult in places. But I could easily hear 4
DICKCISSELS, singing constantly between St. Paul's Church and Spickler Roads. There
were also numerous GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, many of
them singing on fence posts and wires along the road. I also saw a female BLUE
GROSBEAK, and a WILD TURKEY, seemingly out of place on this nearly
treeless stretch. I did NOT see or hear the UPLAND SANDPIPER heard by Jim on
Wednesday, but there is an area of great habitat on both sides of Broadfording
east of Spickler -- weedy, rolling hills with numerous rock outcroppings for
perches. Sure looks promising!
From there I went to Blair's Valley Lake, mainly for a quick shorebird
check. I was stunned to hear a NORTHERN BOBWHITE calling just west of the dam.
It was clearly an actual Bobwhite, with no trace of any mimid notes during
the 5 minutes I was there. Does anyone know what the likelihood of wild vs.
released birds would be at this location? The only shorebirds were two
KILLDEER.
Next I spent nearly a hour on the otherwise unnamed road with the ATT&T
sign off of Hanging Rock Road. This road, which apparently continues into
Pennsylvania, is very pleasant for birding -- not one vehicle came by while I
was there. I was hoping for some late migrants but there were none. I did
find 3 WORM-EATING WARBLERS and a COMMON RAVEN being harassed by Blue Jays,
among other residents.
Next was Mummert Road, where two weeks ago I had searched for my closeout
WHITE-EYED VIREO without success. This time, on a tip from Jim Green, I
found one easily. Thanks Jim! I also heard a KENTUCKY WARBLER on territory and
a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. I then went to nearby Park Head Road, where I had
missed PRAIRIE WARBLER on my previous visit. With patience I finally heard
one singing far up the hill. There were also 3 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS here.
The last stop of the morning was Camp Harding County Park on Pectonville
Road, where Jim had seen a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Wednesday. I had made a
circuit of the small park and was at the very end of the park road, ready to
leave, when I stopped to take a text message. I saw a bird fly up from the
ground and perch on a tree trunk -- a beautiful adult RHWO! A perfect way
to end the day.
(A side note on the RHWO. Usually I'm not obsessive about county closeouts,
but this is one of my favorite birds and I'd love to have in all MD
counties. Despite my less-than-exceptional birding skills I've had exceptionally
good luck chasing RHWO's reported in various counties, so maybe there is a
chance. With this bird I've now seen it in all MD counties except
Caroline.)
Thanks again to Jim for the always-great advice!
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
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