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Subject:

Semi Plover, Dunlin, and Warbling Vireo along the Anacostia

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Fred Shaffer

Date:

Mon, 28 May 2012 14:16:50 -0400

I had a good morning and early afternoon birding various spots in Northern Prince George's County today.  Highlights included Cliff Swallows and one Common Raven near Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, and a singing Warbling Vireo along the Anacostia River about 1/2 mile south of the park.

I started in Laurel, where I hoped to track down the annual Cliff Swallows and Common Ravens at the reservoir.  At my first stop, I had both species after barely leaving my car.  Before going to the reservoir, I always check the WSSC Ballfields located near the dam (on the north side of Brooklyn Bridge Road just west of I-95).  I had approximately a dozen Cliff Swallows hawking for insects over the ballfields and towards the dam.  They gave me great views as I walked slowly through the baseball diamond, sometimes flying right by my position and giving me great views of the rump and forehead pattern.  Also present on the construction trailer was one Common Raven.  I next went down to the reservoir off Supplee Lane.  I saw a few more Cliff Swallows and also heard Ovenbird, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Acadian Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow-throated Vireo, and an Eastern Kingbird.  A Spotted Sandpiper worked the shoreline of the lake.

After this, I went down to Bladensburg Waterfront Park, hoping for shorebirds and a quick kayaking trip.  The tide was coming in, but there were still some mudflats.  Shorebirds included 1 Dunlin, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 3 Least Sandpipers, and 1 Killdeer.  I then went kayaking south along the Anacostia River, flushing up several Spotted Sandpipers.  There were many birds along the way, but the highlight was when I entered the newly created/restored wetlands on the east side of the river about 1/2 mile south of the park.  I heard and got great views of a singing Warbling Vireo.  The bird was in the riverside trees right at the small channel entering the wetlands.  Also of note along the river included a Yellow Warbler, Northern Parula, Indigo Buntings, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.  I also had both species of orioles.  Good birding,

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel

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