Late this afternoon (Sunday 9/5/04) I discovered a White-throated
Sparrow at my bird feeders here in Frostburg (Allegany County).  The
yellow book shows a dashed line throughout the summer which I assume
means that we have one spend the summer from time to time.  I couldn't
resist reporting this though since this sighting beats my personal
earliest date by several days (9/19/98 in Garrett County).  I included
all my September records from my database below.  I apologize if it
comes out jumbled.  I also had a single female BT Green Warbler in the
shrubs near the feeder.

The Stilt Sandpiper that I found yesterday was still at North Branch
this morning (9/5).  Ray Kiddy was there when I got there and had it in
the scope by the time I arrived.  Most of the other birds were more or
less like the assortment that I reported yesterday including at least
one Blue-winged Teal and a few Wood Ducks that I didn't see yesterday.
Ray told me later that he had a Purple Martin among some of the swallows
there after I left.  Purple Martins are typically tough to get in
Allegany County with no recent known nesting locations (at least none
that we are aware of).  Keeping eyes peeled during migration helps.

Year    Month   Day     State   County                 Location
      Species   Comments                       Numbers
1995    9       23      NJ      Cape May        Cape May
Point   WTSP    Sept 23 and 24
1
1998    9       19      MD      Garrett                South
Oakland WTSP
1
1998    9       30      WV      Monongalia      Core Arboretum  WTSP
                                            1
1991    9       27      MD      Allegany
Frostburg       WTSP
1
1988    9       29      MD      Prince George's BARC
WTSP    alone Thursday                 1
1989    9       30      NJ      Cape May        Cape May
Point   WTSP    Saturday w/ Bill Harvey 1
2001    9       30      MD      Allegany                       Warrior
Mountain        WTSP
40