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)

Milford Mill Warbler Walk

On a day that couldn't be any more beautiful, 14 of us enjoyed walking the loop at Milford Mill during a Chesapeake Audubon field trip. Once again this spring, Milford Mill failed to live up to its reputation as a warbler hangout. In the 3-4 years I've birded MM, this spring, so far, is the slowest in terms of migrants. Perhaps this week will be the big one. 

Great-crested Flycatcher (photo from Wikipedia)

Nevertheless, we managed to find and see some really nice birds. Probably the star of the morning was the Great Crested Flycatcher, which not only came close but did some singing as well. Other favorite birds: Parula, some good close views; Redstart, with nice singing and closeups; Black-and-White Warbler; and Nashville Warbler (2), which sang relentlessly and came close a couple of times.   (Tim Houghton)

Nashville Warber (picture from Wikipedia)

Marsh Restoration Project at Blackwater NWR

Blackwater has been eradicating the phragmites growing in the marshes, and today about 40 adults and students planted the areas with native Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). 



Here we are listening to instructions from Samantha Pitts, an educator from Pickering Creek Audubon Center.



There were students from Chesapeake College, Salisbury University, and Washington College.

The Tree Swallows appreciated all the bugs we were stirring up and flew within inches of us.



Here's a close up of newly planted Spartina



There were many Great Egrets, Coots, Osprey, and Bald Eagles along Wildlife Drive.



You can observe this Osprey family on the Blackwater web cam!

Pickering Creek will be sponsoring two more Salt Marsh Restoration Days - please join them!  Advanced registration is required - call 410-822-4903.  Future dates are Saturday, May 11th from 930AM-12PM, and Thursday, May 30th from 5-7:30PM.  Pizza provided!

Patterson Park

Although we're still waiting for spring to arrive at Patterson Park (and the rest of Maryland), we spotted some nice birds at the Saturday bird walk led by Dave Curson. 

Watching a White-breasted Nuthatch

While heading to the pond, we noted many Robins, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Ring-billed Gulls.


All ages come to the Patterson Park Audubon walks.  Bring your family next time!

We added American Wigeon, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Mallards,  and Ring-necked Ducks at the pond. 

This juvenile Cooper's Hawk was very interested in a Song Sparrow.



Best bird of the day was a newly arrived Black-crowned Night Heron that we found
 asleep in the branches right above us.



Evening Woodcock Watch

This evening, 11 people showed up for a Chesapeake Audubon "Woodcock Watch" at Harford Memorial Gardens. In less than optimal viewing conditions, we found/heard 4 woodcocks which performed 5 flights, at least five that we heard. Of those 5 we only SAW one, but it was excellent and complex: a bird flew right over our heads, then zoomed up and circled. It was the first flight of the evening and visibility (despite the clouds) was good. Observers were able to get their binos on the bird and see its plump body and long bill. The Oscar goes to that fellow--with some music awards going to the others. 

Thanks to the friendly group who showed up and stood patiently in the cold--always cold, these things, always cold, all that standing and waiting. Thanks to Kye Jenkins who drove 90 MPH on 95 to get there at the last minute and whose headlights from his red pickup might have been the catalyst needed to stir up the Oscar winner. 

Tim Houghton

 

Here we are listening for the peenting of the male Woodcock.  We started hearing them about 610PM.

Woodcocks can be found in wet thickets like these, and worms are a main part of their diet.

Also known as "Timberdoodles", they are actually shorebirds in the same group as Snipe and Phalaropes, and are a popular game bird.  During our 'watch' hundreds of Canada Geese flew over us to roost for the night in a distant farmfield, and as we left, two Barred Owls were hooting.  Tim will hold another watch next year.  Don't miss it!