Enjoyed birding today with Cindy and Jack Clark. We started about 6:30,
but the "dawn chorus" wasn't quite as overwhelming as what I encountered
2 weeks ago.
The only transient we saw was a singing Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a
lifer for Cindy and Jack and my first in MD. Other treats were 2 Barred
Owls (heard only) on either side of Kingsley Trail talking to each
other, and 2 active Pileated Woodpecker nest cavities, one with 2 heads
sticking out begging, and 2 adults hustling to feed the hungry mouths.
The two young already have complete red crests, so appear about ready to
fledge. I've never seen the young in that state - it hadn't occurred to
me that they have the crest when they fledge. The closer of the 2 nests
cavities was about 50-75 yards SE from the intersection with Hard Cider
Trail, the other nearby but 25-50 yards farther south.
It occurs to me that I haven't heard a Veery this spring, although I saw
one at Patuxent in early May. They're usually singing at LB by this
time, although often hard to find. Are their numbers down this spring?
Bob Hartman
Colesville, MD
37 species (seen and heard):
============================
Indigo Bunting 13
Scarlet Tanager 6
Field Sparrow 4
Chipping Sparrow 3
Carolina Wren 8
American Goldfinch 10
Pileated Woodpecker 5 a + 2 i
Common Yellowthroat 3
Eastern Towhee 4
Yellow Warbler 8
Gray Catbird 10
Barn Swallow 10
Tree Swallow 2
Wood Duck 2
Cedar Waxwing 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 12
Eastern Phoebe 1
Wood Thrush 5
Fish Crow 1
American Crow 8
Orchard Oriole 1
Tufted Titmouse 5
Carolina Chickadee 8
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6
White-eyed Vireo 7
Great Blue Heron 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
Ovenbird 10
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Acadian Flycatcher 7
Blue Jay 4
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Black Vulture 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Barred Owl 2 |