I took myself on a little "Birdapalooza" Friday hitting Calvert Cliffs and
Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. What a beautiful day!
The Chickadees were very rambunctious, as were the Cardinals and
White-throated Sparrows near the visitor's center. Deeper into the swamp, I
spotted a couple each of Downy Woodpeckers and Carolina Wren. The Chickadees
followed me around as if I were wearing a birdseed hat. In the trees on the
ridge, I was chided by a Northern Flicker who was apparently shaking off the
last vestiges of seasonal affective disorder.
After zipping south on Rt 4 polishing off a Cherry Coke and a bag of
Funyuns, I was greeted at Calvert Cliffs by a chorus of Song Sparrows and
the dog toy squeak of a Brown Creeper. Several White-breasted Nuthatches
entertained me on the hike through the swamp where I saw three Red-headed
Woodpeckers making the most of the insects' ressurection from the winter
chill. I watched as a Red-tailed Hawk was accosted by a small murder
(manslaughter?) of American Crows, and two Red-shouldered hawks swayed in
the limbs of drowned trees.
In the bay, two Common Mergansers and a Bufflehead specked the otherwise
birdless waters in front of the cliffs.
Sorry, I don't have a more consise count...I think I left my notes on Ms.
Bishop's couch.
a batch of mediocre photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattyfioner/
please feel free to correct me if I've misidentified anything
Happy Birding!
Matt |