Nancy and I went to Western Maryland to find Henslow's Sparrow, Golden-winged Warbler, and other breeding birds.

We started birding at Finzel Swamp rather late in the day on June 3 and did not see or hear any Alder Flycatchers, so we decided to return in the morning. We spent the rest of the afternoon driving to various Allegheny county locations, including Dan's Rock. Best birds were Bald Eagle, Willow Flycatcher, and Black-capped Chickadee.

The next day, June 4, we got an early start at Finzel Swamp, where we saw Broad-winged Hawk, several Alder Flycatchers, and a singing Northern Waterthrush.

After Finzel, we headed for Old Legislative Road, hoping to find the reported Henslow's Sparrows and Golden-winged Wabler, but, because as it turned out we were at the wrong section of Old Legislative Road, we found neither. We did, however find Alder and Least Flycatcher, a singing Kentucky Warbler, as well as  Orchard and Baltimore Orioles.

We next went to High Rock Tower Road and tested our heart and lung capacity on the uphill hike. Best new species there included Black-billed Cuckoo, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Black-and white, and Mourning Warblers.

After lunch in Westernport, we headed for the Combination Road area for another unsuccessful search for Henslow's Sparrow, but we did catch sight of a male Bobolink carrying food for young.

As we were checking into our motel in McHenry, we met Peter Lev in the lobby, and he birded with us the next two days.

The next morning, June 5, we began at Mt. Nebo WMA, which contrary to a recent report, we found quite productive. We had been expecting all the habitat to be gone, but the Woodcock Demonstration Area is limited, and much of the wetlands is as I remember it.

Veery was calling and singing everywhere as were Alder Flycatcher and Chestnut-sided Warbler. We also had a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We spent a good deal of time trying to identify a warbler singing an unusual two-note song, which sounded a bit like a reversed Blue-wing Warbler, and for a while we thought that it might be a hybrid. It turn out be a Black-throated Blue Warbler with a very abbreviated song (just the last two notes).

We continued on the Swallow Falls where we found a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a Least Flycatcher, a hard to get binos on Magnolia Warbler in the hemlocks near Muddy Falls, a Northern Waterthrush, and yes two male Blackburnian Warblers in the loop area near the parking lot.

We headed toward Cranesville Swamp along Maple Glade Road and stopped at a spot where we had seen a bear several years ago. As we got out of the car, we looked back several yards up the road, where we had passed a large snake. Is that what I think it is at the end of the tail? Rattles! A four or five foot long Eastern Timber Rattlesnake was watching us as carefully as we were watching him.

Art Cransville Swamp we had both Willow and Alder Flycatchers in the Maryland portion, as well as an unexpected Cliff Swallow. I will refrain from mentioning the West Virginia portion except to say that it was quiet.

Nancy and I went to Cathedral State Park in West Virginia, and Peter went to Herrington Manor State Park.

Nancy and I picked up three new species there: Red-shouldered Hawk on a nest, several singing Winter Wrens, and Pine Warbler.

Our last stop of the day was Norris Welch Road, where we found six Wood Duck on the settling pond, an American Kestrel on a wire, and a Killdeer.

This morning, June 6, we all went back to Old Legislative Road on our way home. Peter showed us the right place to stop to look for singing Henslow's Sparrow. To our delight, we found several, as well as many Field Sparrows, and several Alder Flycatchers. We heard what sounded like a distant Golden-winged Warbler, and headed for the woods in the other side of the field, defying the ticks which enjoyed our having neglected to spray our pants legs with DEET.

Thanks to Nancy's younger ears, we were able to get close the the warbler and finally we found him singing from the top of a tall tree. That made a great end to our late Spring birding trip.

All together we had 91 species, with 88 of them in Maryland.

If anyone wants the entire list, send me an email and I will send you an Excel spreadsheet with all 309 sightings.



-- 
Elliot

-- 
Elliot Kirschbaum
Shepherdstown, WV
kingfisher501 at gmail dot com




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