Folks

Today I started the day by listening and watching woodpeckers from the deck.  I had the good fortune of seeing five species.  Four had young and some fed in front of me.  The Red-bellied male was feeding a hatch year young male.  Next were three Northern Flicker - one just out of the nest.  Next was surprisingly a quiet Hairy Woodpecker.  The young male was here yesterday.  Downy adults and young were next, followed by two Pileated Woodpeckers.  I did not confirm any young for the later.  

I have been trying to learn the drumming of the woodpeckers.  This morning the Flickers, Red-bellied, and Pileated gave me some useful information.  Hairy and Downy have provided this information in the past.  Quite an impressive display to start the day.  

Other birds around the deck were three Ruby-throated Woodpecker, Barred Owl (early), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a good number of Eastern Bluebird, Ovenbird, and the usual suspects.

We then went off to Smith Island, Somerset Co., MD to see what new species we could see for the year.  We had all the herons except Green.  I was able to get pictures of Great Blue, Great Egret, Little Blue and Tri-colored Heron, and both Night-herons.  Crossing from Scotland, St. Mary's Co., we had about 24 Wilson's Storm-petrels.  We had a few on the return trip as well.  While there we also had Willet and Seaside Sparrow displaying.  Brown Pelicans were well represented as well as Laughing, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gull, and a few Boat-tailed Grackles.

I finished my day with photographs of #211 species for the year.  That was the Yellow-crowned Night-heron.  I wonder how close I can get to 300 species photographed in a year.  I still have a lot of easy ones to go - like Black-bellied Plover.

County listers take note:  On our return trip home we had one Rock Pigeon on Rt. 235 in St. Mary's County north of Lexington Park by the Titan building.  

Go atlas.

George