I birded a variety of spots in Anne Arundel and Prince George's County today. The most unexpected bird of the day was a Barn Swallow at Sandy Point State Park. I also got good views of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Depot Pond. Highlights from each stop are below:
Sandy Point: The Barn Swallow was seen repeatedly between 11:00 AM and just before 1:00 PM, when I left. It was flying repeatedly over the grassy/sandy area immediately adjacent to the parking lot overlooking the lighthouse. The bird flew over the grass, past the closest bath house, than back over the beach and grass; and I was able to get several photos of the swallow in flight. It appeared to be making this small loop the entire time I watched it (three different times during my visit). Of course, I was able confirm that it had the deeply forked tail and all dark blue rump. Gulls consisted only of Great Black-backed and Ring-billed on the beach. Ducks were comprised of a small number of Bufflehead, six Common Goldeneye, and three Long-tailed Ducks.
Depot Pond: 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 28 Herring Gulls, and 135 Ring-billed Gulls. Also present was one Pied-billed Grebe and 1 Mute Swan.
Merkle WMA: I sorted through approximately 2,000 Canada Geese in the fields behind the visitors center, but found nothing unusual. Also present was one Great Blue Heron, about 10 Ring-billed Gulls, House Finch, House Sparrows, and one adult White-crowned Sparrow (behind the visitors center).
Aquasco Farms: I ended the day at the marsh at Aquasco Farms, where I had two Northern Harriers hunting over the marsh (a juvenile and an adult male). Huge numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds flew in at dusk. Also present was one adult Bald Eagle, two Swamp Sparrows, one Red-shouldered Hawk, and a group of Eastern Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings. Good birding,
Fred Shaffer
Crofton, Anne Arundel
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