Patapsco - McKeldin Area

Headed by Tim Houghton, CAS is monitoring this MD/DC Audubon IBA area for Cerulean Warblers and Wood Thrush, both species of concern along the Atlantic Flyway.  According to National Audubon, the Wood Thrush population has been declining about two percent a year since the mid-1960's mostly due to habitat loss on both its breeding and wintering grounds.

Wood Thrush - picture from Wikipedia

Tim Houghton (left) and Kevin McCahill documenting the location of a bird.

Spiderwort was blooming and was quite plentiful in areas.

Other birds spotted:
Yellow-throated Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
American Redstart
Louisiana Waterthrush
Ovenbird
Northern Parula
Swainson's Thrush
Wild Turkey
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Scarlet Tanager

We would like to acknowledge Christine Holzmueller and Norm and Karen Meadow for the donation of 2 GPS units to assist with this project.

Stay tuned for updates!

Oriole Day at Cromwell Valley Park

To celebrate the return of the Orioles, Cromwell Valley Park invited adults and children alike to participate in bird and nature walks, games, and exhibits.  The rain stayed away for us as we spotted Baltimore and Orchard Oriole nests and birds, and much more.


People of all ages came to participate in the event.  You can see Hugh Simmons in the background with a Great-horned Owl from  Phoenix Wildlife Center.

Richard Schurmann helped represent our table.



Joanne spoke to people about the Eastern Bluebirds and other wildlife that can be found at Cromwell Valley.



The Wild Bird Center is always a wecome sight at Oriole Day.

Phoenix Wildlife Center also brought a Terrapin and Black Vulture.

The Herp Atlas folks.

Baltimore Bird Club and Lights Out Baltimore

Robin Schless helped kids create colorful hummingbird mobiles.

An eagle's nest grew much bigger....



...as the event progressed.



Kids learned about the many dangers migrating birds encounter as they played the popular migratory bird game.

Thanks again to Justine Schaeffer, a naturalist at Cromwell Valley, her staff and volunteers, for organizing such a fun event.  Plan on spending the morning with us in 2014!

Harford Glen Bird Count

May 11, 2013.  It wasn't the prettiest of days, but the birds didn't care.  Many new migrants had just arrived, and we tallied a total of 80 species for the Harford Bird Club spring count.


A pair of Green Herons calls Harford Glen home.  Photo by Fred Brundick.



Goslings are always fun to watch.  Photo by Fred Brundick

Sometimes Tree Frogs appreciate bird boxes too!

This wetland is the result of an incredible Beaver Dam. 

Great Egret

Our list of birds include Wild Turkey, Least Tern, Least Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, American Bittern, Least, Spotted, and Solitary Sandpipers.  Warblers include Yellow, Blackpoll, Black and White, Blackburnian, Parula, Black-throated Blue, Ovenbird, and both Waterthrushes.  Join us for the count next year!

Patterson Park Friday Bird Walk

Spring migration has finally started!  It was a perfect spring morning for a bird walk, and as usual, Patterson Park had many surprises for us. 

One of our first birds was a Chestnut-sided Warbler, which was singing, but very hard to view.  An Eastern Phoebe sang nearby, and we then added Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, and stumbled upon about 30 White-throated Sparrows which were refueling on their way north.

Enjoy pictures from birder and photographer Terry Lang:

Baltimore Oriole

Eastern Kingbird

As we approached the pond, we noticed the bird of the day - an American Bittern!

A newly arrived American Bittern searching for breakfast.





Notice the beautiful wing pattern

 We tallied 48 species!  Patterson Park Audubon sponsors a walk the last Saturday of the month, and on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, the bird walk is led by Chesapeake and Patterson Park Audubon.  Please join us next time.

Entire bird list:
Canada Goose  2
Mallard  X
Double-crested Cormorant  1
American Bittern  1  
Great Blue Heron  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Solitary Sandpiper  1
Ring-billed Gull  5
Mourning Dove  8
Chimney Swift  12
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  2
Eastern Kingbird  3
Warbling Vireo  2
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  6
American Crow  2
Fish Crow  1
Tree Swallow  2
Barn Swallow  2
House Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1
Swainson's Thrush  1
American Robin  22
Gray Catbird  8
Northern Mockingbird  3
European Starling  25
Cedar Waxwing  1
Black-and-white Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  6
American Redstart  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler  2
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  30
Scarlet Tanager  1
Northern Cardinal  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  2
Red-winged Blackbird  12
Common Grackle  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  1
Orchard Oriole  2
Baltimore Oriole  2
American Goldfinch  8
House Sparrow  6

Susquehanna Warbler Walk

Today the number of birders roaming the park outnumbered the parulas!

We noted Baltimore Oriole, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Parula,  White-breasted Nuthatch, and Osprey near the parking area.

Ten of us on a Chesapeake Audubon field trip had a wonderful time at Susquehanna today, even though the migration isn't what it normally would be at this time. We had many highlights. Fantastic, close looks at CERULEAN WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, WORM-EATING WARBLER, and PROTHONOTARY, as well as Louisiana Waterthrush. Also nice views of Baltimore Oriole, Common Merganser, and Great-Crested Flycatcher--and even a Wild Turkey. 

 

 



Walking along the old railroad river trail looking for the Prothontary and Louisiana Waterthrush.



 

Prothonotary Warbler (photo from Wikipedia)

Top birds, including all warblers:

Common Merganser (2, male)

Wild Turkey (1)

Scarlet Tanager (2)

Baltimore Oriole (1)

Ovenbird (12)

Worm-Eating Warbler (1)

Louisiana Waterthrush (8)

Blue-Winged Warbler (2)

Black-and-White Warbler (2)

Prothonotary Warbler (5)

KENTUCKY WARBLER (4)

Common Yellowthroat (2)

Redstart (20)

CERULEAN WARBLER (3)

Parula (30 at least)

Yellow Warbler (4) 

Yellow-Rumped (40)

Yellow-Throated Warbler (2, very quiet)

Black-Throated Green Warbler (1)

Best Birding Wishes,

Tim Houghton

(Glen Arm)