[MDOsprey] McKee-Beshers 7-31

Paul Woodward (grackling@worldnet.att.net)
Sun, 1 Aug 1999 13:40:29 -0400 

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31 July 1999

Spent a little more than 4 hours at McKee-Beshers, mainly in the =
floodplain forest at the east end and adjacent towpath.  Also checked =
the wires along River Road and the impoundments.  Recorded 40 species.  =
Singing has really diminished even compared to what I heard Thursday.  =
Ten species were singing, including a Wood Thrush at 1120.  Only one =
Great Egret was present .  Another good count of Rough-winged Swallows- =
223 on the wires along River Road and 11 over the river.  Due to the low =
water levels vast mats of  water stargrass are present upstream from Ten =
Foot Island.  Today there were 9 Mallards and 9 Wood Ducks among the =
mats.  Later this could be good habitat for shorebirds and terns.  Other =
highlights were: a Willow Flycatcher low along the north-south causeway, =
a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird gleaning insects and/or spiders from =
the underside of leaves and shooting off probably to feed her nestlings, =
and good looks at a Worm-eating Warbler foraging among dead leaves about =
25' off the ground.  Stewart and Robbins(1958) list 31 July as the =
earliest fall arrival date  for worm-eaters and show the normal start of =
fall migration as August 10-20 . The  Yellow Book shows decreased =
abundance starting in late July so the question is whether this was an =
early migrant or a post-breeding wanderer.  My best guess is that this =
was a bird from the nearby upland nesting areas  preparing to migrate.

Paul Woodward=20
Faifax,VA

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31 July 1999
 
Spent a little more than 4 hours at = McKee-Beshers,=20 mainly in the floodplain forest at the east end and adjacent = towpath.  Also=20 checked the wires along River Road and the impoundments.  Recorded = 40=20 species.  Singing has really diminished even compared to what I = heard=20 Thursday.  Ten species were singing, including a Wood Thrush at = 1120. =20 Only one Great Egret was present .  Another good count of = Rough-winged=20 Swallows- 223 on the wires along River Road and 11 over the river.  = Due to=20 the low water levels vast mats of  water stargrass are present = upstream=20 from Ten Foot Island.  Today there were 9 Mallards and 9 Wood Ducks = among=20 the mats.  Later this could be good habitat for shorebirds and = terns. =20 Other highlights were: a Willow Flycatcher low along the north-south = causeway, a=20 female Ruby-throated Hummingbird gleaning insects and/or spiders from = the=20 underside of leaves and shooting off probably to feed her nestlings, and = good=20 looks at a Worm-eating Warbler foraging among dead leaves about 25' off = the=20 ground.  Stewart and Robbins(1958) list 31 July as the earliest = fall=20 arrival date  for worm-eaters and show the normal start of fall = migration=20 as August 10-20 . The  Yellow Book shows decreased abundance = starting in=20 late July so the question is whether this was an early migrant or a=20 post-breeding wanderer.  My best guess is that this was a bird from = the=20 nearby upland nesting areas  preparing to migrate.
 
Paul Woodward
Faifax,VA
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