Greetings,
I spent four of five ours this morning wandering the Turkey Point area of Elk
Neck State Park in Cecil County. I was accompanied by Joyce and Monroe
Harden, Sean McCandless, and a couple (Cindy, and Dan?) from PA. Best bird
for me was an Orange-crowned Warbler which was WELL seen and easily
identified having just returned from the San Diego area where they were
rather ubiquitous. Other Warblers included LOADS of western Palm Warblers,
and Black-throated Blues. Other warblers with of less quantities were Black
and White, Blackpoll, N. Parula, Redstart, Black-throated Green, Common
Yellowthroat, myrtle Yellow-rumped, and Magnolia Warbler.
There were two Red-headed Woodpeckers seen distally to the Hawk watch as
well as one which flew into the Hawk Watch and lit on "the dead snag," which
made Sean remark that if that snag ever falls, "I am going to rip the bark off
of that tree next to it." -That "old dead snag" is well known for attracting
good looks at less-common birds!
Other birds of note included a flyby Baltimore Oriole, Red-breasted
Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Catbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed
Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, R-t Hummingbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tree
Swallow, and Chimney Swift.
The Hawk watch, which was being "manned" by John Taylor and a gentleman
named Greg who sported an enormous camera (at least he said it was a
camera -looked more like the gun barrel of an M-1 from Aberdeen), had loads
of sharpies moving through. I am sure they eclipsed 150+ sharpies plus a few
dozen Coopers, as well as a handful of Red-taileds...
That’s about it!
Enjoy the cold front and wind/birds which it brings!
Good Birding,
Chris Starling
North East, MD |