[MDOsprey] Birding today (9/24) in upper Montgomery Co.

Jim Felley (IRMSS668@SIVM.SI.EDU)
Fri, 24 Sep 99 19:27:00 EDT 

This morning I was able to sneak out for some serious birding, and
my first stop was Lake Needwood, off Avery Road (off Muncaster
Mill Rd).  I arrived at 8:30, went to the hiking trail parking
lot, and (following Gail MacKiernan's "Rule of the Ridge", I
birded the ridge on the west of the large field at the hiking
trail head.
   Bingo!  I saw large numbers of warblers, mostly Black-throated
Greens, Chestnut-sided, and Red-eyed Vireos.  Less abundant were
American Redstarts and some Common Yellowthroats.  There was also
a single Nashville Warbler.  A couple of young-of-the-year
Chipping Sparrows had me grabbing my binoculars with high hopes for
something new and wonderful, but I think Chipping Sparrows are neat
anytime.  Further into the woods a Wood Thrush was about.  Also
evident were some phoebes, catbirds, chickadees, titmice and
cardinals.  There was a lot of action for about an hour.
   When things slowed down, I went to the Agricultural History
Farm Park, off of Muncaster Road.  The willows along the stream
on the way in were absolutely dead.  I soon found out why - a
Cooper's Hawk was scaring everybody to death!  Since things were
not going to liven up for a while, I proceeded further into the
park and hiked to the top of the grassy hill that is on the other
side of the stream (there is a 'path' across the stream, but
a beaver has decided that this is a good place for a dam!).
   On the way up I saw two Eastern Meadowlarks and heard some
sparrow-like chipping from the grass.  I glimpsed one of the sparrows
and it might have been a Field Sparrow, but no guarantees.
   I then spent the afternoon working in the courtyard of my
daughter's elementary school.  I saw a single Broad-winged Hawk,
heading for the Blue Ridge, I imagine.
   Finally, a Common Nighthawk just flew over my house a few minutes
ago.
   Today was a fine change from the little I have seen on the Mall
so far this fall!

                          Jim

                          Jim Felley
                          Smithsonian Institution
                          irmss668@sivm.si.edu