QUIET TIME

2009-07-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

With hopes of finding a pair of previously spotted Dickcissels at the county landfill, small group of us headed out for what we hoped would be a relatively easy re-location of the Dickcissels and then we could scout out the rest of the area for any uncommon birds might just drop by the ever popular landfill.

We got to the last known location the bird was spotted and the first thing we came across was this very proud Coopers Hawk with his breakfast. Several in the group half joked the it looked like the Cooper might have beat us to our quarry. Dead birds don't count. Maybe it was it still breathing? Anyway, nobody could ID breakfast and by this time Cooper had had enough of us staring at his breakfast. and decided to have his "to go."

We all spent some time combing the area for the now elusive Dickcissel. Success was finally ours when Jeff was able spot a pair in the high grasses not too far away from where the Cooper had been successfully hunting earlier.

And while it is leap to assume what breakfast was, it is interesting to note that the photo Jeff took shows that the Dickcissel is conspicuously missing his tail feathers. hmmmmmmm.

Summertime

2009-07-12T02:42:00.000-07:00

Bird Listing has slowed down dramatically since the end of May. After finishing up with 33 new birds for the year by May 31. June netted one new bird for the year, a Eastern Wood Pewee, can you guess what vocalization it makes? This brought my yearly total to 169. I had several misses, with birds that were spotted in the area but moved on before I had a chance. Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager (this would have been a nice one) plus several warblers.

In July so far I have only been able to add one bird but it was a great bird for me , a pair Dickcissels . A hard bird to find because they have the unusual habit (or actually no habit at all) of never returning to the same breeding area. While with many species you can almost set your watch to with their return or exit to an area. The Dickcissel, it was explained to me, never returned to the same place. While we have a pair in the county this year we may not see this bird again for several years. All in all #170 for the county - 2009. # 195 on the county life list and number 224 on the over all life list.

Ahh. God's plan worked out to the tiniest detail. He even kept the birder in mind when He designed migration. With little to chase I can focus on the garden, hanging with my peeps and enjoying other summertime pursuits.

By May 31

2009-06-11T14:31:00.001-07:00

With my total for the county at 163 by May 9th, I did not expect to have many more by month's end. I was how ever to add 5 to the total for 168 through May. The additions were
Willow flycatcher, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Blackpoll Warbler, Prothonotrary Warbler, and a Little Blue Heron.
Birds I tried for and missed were Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo, Cerulean Warbler, Sora. The county list is around 216 species for the year. My total is approx 78% of the county total.

I am hopeful that during the fall migration I will be able to pick up these listed plus several others that I missed.

Updating, in case someone reads this blog.

2009-05-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

A lot has been going on and I have seemingly been able to find something else to do rather then blog. Translation: I have been birding. More cold, rainy,windy days then I can count. But there is something stimulating about putting on layers of clothing, a wool hat, gloves and heading off to a woodlands area.
The woods appear to be asleep wrapped in winter's blanket of frost or snow. But it teems with activity. It amazes me that warm blooded creatures weighing no more the a couple of ounces, and often less, not only choose to stay for the winter but thrive.
I am speaking about our year round birds, Carolina Chickadees, Titmice, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wrens the list is long.

I have set no particular goal for the year other then to participate in more of the county's birding trips, and visit areas in the county I haven't birded.

Here is how the year is progressing:
On January 1,The bird club when out on the first day of the year and we recorded 42 species. My total by January's end was 52 species. In February I added another 26 additional birds. By the end of March I had 12 more, bringing my yearly total to 90.

With April came the spring migration, and all kinds woodland birds including Warblers, lots of warblers. By April's end I was up to 135.

It is now May 9th and my count is at 163. Considering that I was pretty pleased after my first year of listing to come up with a county total of 144 for the year. I think I am doing pretty well. I can not believe how God has revealed His Creation to me in a way that I have never experienced.

The hi-lights have been many. To date I have recorded 39 new county birds in Howard County for 2009. While each and every one was a joy to discover, below are a few high lights

In no particular order:
White winged Cross Bills, my first Life bird of the year 3 county records.
Harris Sparrow, this bird has only been recorded in the county only a couple times - 4 county records.
Painted Bunting , same with this fellow. - 2nd county record
Golden Eagle, a flyover, when I happened to look up at the right time to see him ride the thermals
Rusty Black Birds, always a good find
Virginia Rail,
Sedge Wren, - 8 county records
Common Moorhen

Ta ta for now.

Birding In January

2009-02-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

I started this year off by getting up on January first at 7 am to restart my annual list. With a zeal that exceeds all types of weather and lack of sleep I met with the local birders that keep annual lists for county birds seen in a year,. Yes, there are several people that do this. Its a great past time and you can start afresh each year.

So January 1, 2009 at 8 am with the sky clear the temps in the teens, standing by a lake in the wind I started my new list. We visited several spots in the county and by 11 am we had counted 42 birds.

Not a bad start of the new year, considering I had a total of 37 birds middle of Feb last year. To date I am up to 63.

Some of the high lights have been life birds, Northern Pin-tail, Whitewing, Cross-bills, Tundra Swans, Gadwall, American Wigeon, and Green Winged Teal. All seen seen in the last two weeks.

I believe this has been the coldest January into February in several years and because of this all the lakes, ponds, and Reservoirs have been frozen over accept where the water fowl would keep it open for paddling around and diving for food. This has made for easy identification of birds I would probably have missed

Food fight at the back deck feeders

2008-12-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

These guys had actually calmed down some. There were more mouths then perches and no one was willing to wait their turn.

Big Day Dec 23

2008-12-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Howard county is freezing. That is always promising news for birders. Today seems to be the day that a lot of rare visitors dropped from the sky. here is a partial list of Birds I saw. But by no means inclusive.
At Centennial Lake were the following: a Greater White Fronted Goose (1), Cackling Geese (3), Golden Eye (1), American Black Duck (1), Canvas backs (2) and a lot of other birds, Canadas - 1000+, Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, American Coots, Ring Necked Ducks, Ring Billed Gulls.

I also Visited Lake Elkhorn. and saw more of the same just a lot less.

The Greater White Fronted is quite rare for Howard County. The last being in 2000, or so I am told.

What is it?

2008-12-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

What is this duck? Is this a Green Winged Teal or some knockoff brand of mallard? Black bill, pinkish legs fairly uniform brown throughout except the green wing bars. I found this bird in a mixed flock of Mallards and Mallard Hybrids.

2008-12-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

Dec 12 again

An added bonus was while I was returning to the hotel room I spotted 2 Purple Finches along the walkway coming back from the beach. I gather that this is a very seldom seen this far south. I am sure that this pair was blown south by the storm.
Before traveling to St. Augustine Florida I tried to contact the local bird club for directions to a nice birding spot but received not response. That, I guess is a good thing because I struck out on my own and I located this rarity. Bad for the St Johns Bird club because I have no one to contact to let them know they have Purple Finches in their county.

If by some miracle someone from St. Johns County reads this posting and is interested, I would be happy to tell them where I found a pair for PF's.

Also blown in by the storm were several beautiful star fish washed up on the shore.

2008-12-16T02:41:00.001-08:00

Dec 12, 2008. The Beach and the Willet

Florida Shoreline

2008-12-16T02:41:00.000-08:00

Dec 12, 2008
Friday morning in St. Augustine Florida was a cold windy post storm morning. A good time to visit the beach if you are looking for birds that were seeking shelter the night before.

There were Laughing Gulls, Herring Gulls, Ring Billed Gulls, Foster's Terns, Royal Terns, Brown Pelicans and White Pelicans, Sanderlings, Willets, and Ruddy Turnstones.

Community Watch program

2008-12-07T12:59:00.000-08:00

Locals keep an eye on this trouble maker.

Pileated Woodpeckers

2008-12-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning 17 degrees and clear. I decided to follow up on some postings of waterfowl located in the next county. Not having many migrents of late, Howard County has been very blah.

Piney Branch Park, located in Carroll County has a beautiful lake that abounds with waterfowl, Canadas, Ringnecked Ducks, Ringbilled Gulls, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Wigeons, Great Blue Herons, Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, Black Ducks, American Coots and several others that were too far away to view without a scope.

But my highlight for the morning were two Pileated Woodpecker working the trees for insectstotally unperturbed by my presences. I watched them for maybe five minutes before they flew off .

Pine Siskins

2008-11-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Well, it is mid-November, and over a month since I last posted. This has been the doldrums. Between early migration starting in August with the Warblers, followed by Sparrows, and then the Accipiters and Buteos through October. Relatively little happens from the last of October and into early November. But, Mid November the Water fowl from the north start heading south for the winter months. i have seen alot of FOS (First of Season) birds but very few FOY (First of Year) birds. Without listing the few additions for the year, I will say that I am at number 148. I would like two more unique birds to reach my goal of 150 species in Howard County Maryland for the year.

Some highlights are a immature Snow Goose, six Cackling Geese mixed in with a large flock of Canadas.

Lastly, at our feeder this past weekend we have had several visits by Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. The Pine Siskins are pictured above along with one of our many regular backyard Goldfinches.

Garden Plots at Elkhorn Garden Plots

2008-10-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

This is a great place to go Birding in the fall. Lots of migrants. The gardens provide lots of cover and a wide variety dining choices, seeds, insects, berries and old veggies left on the vines in many of the plots that have been left unattended in the fall. Additionally, very few gardeners are around to intimidate the little fellows. In fact the birders out number the gardeners this time of year

Nashville Warbler
Mourning Warbler
White Crowned Sparrow
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler (western subspecies)

Robins, Cardinals, B Jays, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, House Sp. Mocking birds, Song Sp. , House Finches, Goldfinches. Common Yellow Throat.

I am looking for a Tennessee Warbler but I am afraid that I have missed it.

Photo Credit to Jeff Culler.He also help me identify the Palm Warbler (western) as I really had no idea what I was looking at.

A Good day today

2008-10-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

This morning I had a field trip with the local Bird Club. I always look forward to being with birders that have years in the field. You can not help but pick up tips on habitat & habits. Today was no exception. Many warblers have moved on but several are still present. One of those very experienced birder spotted one and then another Orange Crown Warbler (138 )the OCW stayed still long enough for everyone to get a good look. For many of us it was a life list bird. For almost all but the birders that have been at if for decades it was a county and state list bird.

Other first of the year birds were pair of Eastern Meadow Larks (139), a beautiful Indigo Bunting(140) and a Lincoln's Sparrow (141), this is also a lifer but fairly common for the experienced. Below is a complete list as compiled by our fearless leader. I did not see the entire list and sadly there are 2 sparrows in the list needed for the year.

Canada Goose:
Black Vulture: 2
Turkey Vulture: 1
Osprey: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 3
Red-shouldered Hawk: 2
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
Mourning Dove: 1
Chimney Swift: 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker:
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1
Northern Flicker:
Eastern Phoebe: 5
Blue Jay:
American Crow:
Carolina Chickadee:
Tufted Titmouse:
White-breasted Nuthatch:
Carolina Wren:
House Wren: 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 4
Eastern Bluebird:
American Robin:
Gray Catbird:
Northern Mockingbird:
Cedar Waxwing:
Orange-crowned Warbler: 1-2. First winter bird, virtually devoid of field marks, grayish aspect, with broken eye ring, and pale yellow vent area.
Magnolia Warbler: 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler: 2
Black-throated Green Warbler: 6
Palm Warbler: 9-12
Black-and-white Warbler: 2
American Redstart: 1
Common Yellowthroat: 12
Eastern Towhee: 3
Chipping Sparrow:
Field Sparrow: 1
Savannah Sparrow: 1
Lincoln's Sparrow:
Northern Cardinal:
Indigo Bunting:
Red-winged Blackbird:
Eastern Meadowlark: 2
House Finch:
American Goldfinch

Compilation of the last two weeks

2008-09-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

I am listing only new birds for the year.

(128)Black Throated Green Warbler 09/20/08 am

(129)Winter Wren 09/20/08

(130)Eastern Wood Pewee 09/20/08

(131)Broad Winged Hawk 09/21/08

(132)Pileated Wood Pecker 09/21/08

(133)Canada Warbler 09/21/08

(134)Blue Winged Warbler 09/21/08

(135)Blackburnian Warbler 09/21/08

Common Yellow Throat 09/21/08

(136)Philadelphia Vireo 09/21/08 - this was quite a find. I didn't realize it but someone else saw it two days before in the same area.

(137)Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker 09/24/08

Sunday Morning

2008-09-15T03:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday, our local bird club had a field trip to Rockburn park. It was the first trip of the fall season and almost all the exceptional birders in the local club were there. As i result I learned more in a couple of hours at the park with these people then I ever could on my own. It is trips like these that really help expand my knowledge of how to locate and identify birds I would normally walk by and miss. We started about 8 am , I called it quits at 9:45 am.

Here is my list.
Number 126 - Yellow Billed Cockoo (2) Picture above
Number 127 - Bank Swallow - flyover

Triadelphia Reservoir

2008-09-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Dana and I were up early today. She was meeting friends for breakfast, I had a men's study group at church. We decided it was a good day for a drive around Howard County's largest body of water, the Tridelphia Reservoir.

Today was more of a reconnoiter rather then an actual trip to bird, none the less I always end up making a list. Trip list is below.

Canada Goose - 36 (HOCO)

Double-crested Cormorant - 1 (MOCO)

Turkey Vulture - 1 (HOCO)

Bald Eagle - 1 (HOCO)
Least Sandpiper -8 (HOCO)

Caspian Tern - 1 (HOCO) (#125)

Belted Kingfisher - 2 (MOCO)

Red-bellied Woodpecker -heard (MOCO)

Northern Flicker - heard (Mont. Co)

Blue Jay heard (MOCO)

Vultures (sp)

Red-tailed hawk (HOCO)

Green Heron 2 (HOCO (MOCO)

2008-09-10T14:28:00.001-07:00

Rockburn Park 09/10/2008

2008-09-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday morning was a good morning in the park. I was fortunate enough to meet a fellow birder and spend some time walking the trails that I have been walking for the last two weeks. Two sets of eyes are definitely better the just mine.

One the left is a plate of a Magnolia Warbler (123).
A Red-eyed Vireo (124) If I can find picture I will post it.

Along with these we saw the following:

Red Shouldered Hawk (1)
American Crows (6+)
Mocking Birds (4)
Catbirds (10+)
American Robins (10+)
No. Cardinals (6+)
American Red Start (male)
Sharp Shinned Hawk (1)
Mourning Dove (2)
Starlings (12)
Common Yellow Throat (1)
White eyed Vireo (heard)
Carolina Chickadee (6+)
Turkey Vulture
Eastern Bluebird (1)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (female)
Blue Jay (4)
Tufted titmouse (2)
American goldfinch (2)
Northern Parula (1)

09/08/2008 Rockburn Park

2008-09-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Next to the parking lot off the Montgomery road entrance of Rockburn Park is a stand of trees that has yielded several species of Warblers over the past week, this morning was no exception.

All though I arrived late (7:45 am) the activity in this area was still "hopping."

Along with the usual warblers of late, I spotted a Chestnut sided Warbler (imm. female) (121) and at the top of a tree with several dead branches was an Olive-sided Flycatcher (122)

The rest of the list is very pedestrian and I won't bore anyone with it. Although no one reads this blog anyway, so it wouldn't matter what a mentioned. :)

09/05/2008 Rockburn Park

2008-09-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

7am to 8am

6- Black and White Warbler
Northern Parula
American Red Start (female)
Baltimore Oriole (male)
Scarlet Tanager (119)
Hawk (sp)
Blue jay
Crows (sp)
3-Northern Cardinal
Catbirds(everywhere)
White Breasted Nuthatch
White Eyed Vireo (120)

Minor milestone 120 birds for Howard County with 4 months to go.

Anne Arundal County 09/03/2008

2008-09-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

I read on MDOSPREY Rare Bird Alert System for Maryland about a pond in AA county behind the shopping center on Quarterfield Road and decided to take a look. It was a man made pond that often appear at construction location for the run off from rains and such. This pond turned out to be a great locale for shore birds, ducks and waders in general.
Here is what I found

Shore Birds:
Killdeer (4)
Lesser Yellowlegs (1)
Least Sandpiper (2)
Solitary Sandpiper(2)

Waders:
Cattle Egrets (4)

Mallards (60+)
Canadas (10)
Hooded Merganser (imm.) (1)
Barn Swallow (1)
Mourning Dove (1)

All in all and interesting group.

Fall migration has started Howard County 09/03/2008

2008-09-03T06:32:00.001-07:00

The migrating warblers have started to arrive in Howard County. Location: Rockburn Park.

Common yellow throat (114)
Northern Parula (115)
American Red Start (116) male and female
Black throated Green Warbler (117)
Black and White Warbler (118)

other birds:
Crows sp
Sharp-shinned Hawk
No. Cardinals
Imm. Robins - everywhere
Blue Gray Gnat Catchers
C. Chickadees
T. Titmice - 4
Eastern Pewee
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Catbirds

Mont. Co. 08-30-31-2008
Last weekend at Little Bennett Park (Mont. CO.)
we saw an Olive Sided Flycatcher ( life bird)and
a female Black throated Blue Warbler.

Fall migration has started

2008-09-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

Litlle Blue Heron #113

2008-08-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, while walking around Centennial lake in Columbia we spotted a immature Little Blue Heron, working its way around the little island in the western part of the lake. This photo is not the actual bird but a mature individual I happened upon near my office. The immature LBH a are mostly white with a pale blue beak. As they mature the will lose the white feathers and eventually look like this fellow.

Happy Birthday

2008-08-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

The love of my life is celebrating a birthday today. I cannot believe how blessed I am that the Lord chose me to share her life. Through twenty-eight years of marriage, three children, and half a life time of memories.

You grow more beautiful with each passing day. Happy Birthday Sweetie.

check out those legs

2008-07-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Algae leggings - very buff.

Early morning walk

2008-07-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Well, another White Ibis was spotted, this time along a shallow in the Patapsco River. I finally was successful in actually seeing him. Below is my White Ibis (112). He is an immature Ibis, and therefore not very white.
In addition to the Ibis here is a partial list of creatures from this morning. Canada Geese, Green Heron, Great Blue Herons, several, Belted Kingfishers, Blue Winged Teals (113) and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, heard not seen. Also some four legged critters of note: a four point buck and some beavers photos below.

Birds of Race Road

2008-07-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Race Road, a swampy wetland and is always good for multiple waders.Here is what I have been able to view this summer
Great Blue Herons (pictured)
Great Egrets (also picture)
Green Herons
Yellow Crowned Night Heron (immature)
Belted Kingfishers (several)

Thursday Afternoon

2008-07-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Still no White Ibis (WI)............ But once again I caught a glimpse of another Heron. This time it was an immature Yellow Crowned Night Heron (110)

I could not get a clear view and it had not as of yet developed all the adult type plumage, but none the less it was exciting to see it as I had again given up hope on WI and was about to head to the car.

Well, it is not as if there is nothing going on at the marsh (swamp), but my focus is on finding the WI.

Here is a list of the regulars that I see daily.

Great Blue Herons, 3 to 5, Great Egrets 1 to 3, Belted Kingfishers a pair, Green Herons 2, a Black Crowned Night Heron, Mallards, Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, Eastern Bluebirds, Goldfinches, Red Winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Owls, Hawks, and a lot of little brown jobs all over the place.

Lets see what tomorrow brings

July 17, 2008

2008-07-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning and still no White Ibis. But,

number 109 showed up as a Marsh Wren.

Noisy little guy. He was hard to miss. He kept jumping around and singing until I paid attention.

(not my photo)

2008-07-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Summer doldrums

2008-07-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

In between the spring migration and the fall migration there is a gap when very little goes on in the way of viewing new species
Last week there was a posting for a White Ibis in the county, very rare for our part of Maryland. The location happens to be very near my office near the county line.

Not having seen anything new or even anything old worth posting, I decided that early morning trips to this site might net me a new species to add my 2007 county list as well as my life. Three days of venturing to the site and nothing in the way of a White Ibis.

But I was able to see several Wood Ducks (106) a Blue Grosbeak (107). (pictured is an immature Green Heron. I miss identified as a Least Bittern.

Hummer (105)

2008-06-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

Finally I have seen the Ruby-throated Hummingbird that my wife spotted about two weeks ago in the back yard. Better late then never. The photo is from last year . i cannot seem to find the really nice pictures of this fellow and the truth be told, our visiting hummingbird is actually a female.

Other birds I have seen this week

2008-06-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

I would like to note that I have seen three very striking birds near my office. A Cattle Egret, a Little Blue Heron and a Glossy Ibis. Here are the pix of all three. They were exciting to come across. I actually saw all three in about an hour on Friday June 13th.

Little Blue Heron - top

Cattle Egret - middle

Glossy Ibis - bottom

A first for Howard County

2008-06-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

It has been some time since I last posted. But today I responded to a rare bird alert for a Eurasian Collared Dove (102). This is not a rare bird per say, just in our neck of the woods. So I was up at 5:30 am and off to Lisbon Maryland to meet at a beautiful working farm in western Howard County.

We were very fortunate to find the bird as soon as we stepped out of the car. We then proceeded to wander around for the next hour chasing the the thing to get different views as the EC Dove seem to realize we were staring at it and would move from tree to tree, seeming to say,
" Pleasssssssse, stop staring at me".

After that highlight we went in search of anything thing else we could find. For an early weekday morning with not a lot of time we were very successful. Here is a short list of the most colorful and impressive fowl.

Great Blue Heron, perched in the tree tops, Baltimore Oriole, Kestrel, Eastern Bluebirds, Jays, Goldfinches, Meadow larks (I did not see these, drat), Redheaded Woodpeckers (first for me in HC) (103) Grasshopper Sparrows (heard but not seen another life list first)(104) and of course all the other usual suspects. Also a pair of red foxes working their way along a fence line.

ttfn

New goal .....150

2008-05-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

I have I lot of catching up to do.
Our feeders netted two addtitions, a Gray Catbird (94) and a beautiful Rose Breasted Grosbeak(95) that stopped for a couple of days while a storm blew through the area. Sadly, he left when the sun came out.

At lake Elkhorn I spied several Baltimore Orioles, males and females (96). Also an male orchard Oriole (97) a Least Sandpiper (98), a Solitary Sandpiper (99), Semipalmated Sand Piper (100) and a Prothonotary Warbler (101) over this past weekend.

FYI Semipalmated is a big word for ----> "Having partial or reduced webbing between the toes, as some wading birds do. "
and Prothonotary means : "a chief clerk or official in certain courts of law." I have no idea why a small little yellow bird would be declared a clerk of the court.

I think I need a new goal. so 150 is next.

2 Life List birds for me. Woo Hoo

2008-04-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

====================> Eastern Kingbird

At Centennial Lake this morning I took an abbreviated walk with the intent to find the Spotted Sandpiper that was reported to be along the bank on the deep end of the lake near the dam.

As I started out I immediately spotted several Purple Martins(91). Shortly thereafter the Spotted Sandpiper(92) walked out from behind a rock along the shore.

With that done I started back to the car to get and early start on the work day. But on the way back to car ,and there in a field of blooming mustard, was an Eastern Kingbird(93). It was a very striking bird with beautiful tail feathers.

A Forgotten Bird

2008-04-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Red-breasted Nuthatch - left & Chipping Sparrow - right.

This weekend had little in the way of birding activity. My middle son and I did go fishing. This is one of his favorite hobbies. We spent a wonderful morning tramping along the Patapsco River. We didn't catch anything worth keeping accept the memory of spending time together. BTW, Happy Birthday Blake

Sunday, morning was the start of some very very wet weather but I was able to get out early, before Church. BTW,our Pastors are doing an 8 part series from Psalms. This Sundays topic - Guilt. I needed to be there for that. Here is the link for any other guilty people out there. http://www.covlife.org/sermons/ The entire series has been very convicting. If is well worth listening.

Oh, the birds, Chimney Swifts(87), Chipping Sparrow(88) Red-Breasted Nuthatch (89) at our feeder, very cool. And, Snow Geese (90) that I saw in a fly over back on March 17th and over looked in my list earlier

The long and short of it.

2008-04-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

Lake Elkhorn produced several new birds. Unfortunately I only actually saw two of them. I missed the Chimney Swifts and the Purple Martins that someone reliable walking by had spotted. There will be other opportunities for these fellows as the are just starting to arrive in our area and will stay for the summer.

What I did see were are opposite ends of the size spectrum. A House Wren (85) 4 1/2 inches long with a seven inch wingspan, and a pair of nesting Barred Owls (86) 21 inches long (or tall) with a wingspan of or around 43- 44 inches. Quite a contrast.

It's Starting to Warm Up

2008-04-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Green Heron

Sadly, I am in my office instead of being outside and recreating. Today I had a specific purpose of locating a recently cited Green Heron(84). I was pleasantly surprised to locate them quite easily. Yes, them there were two, side by side in a quite neighborhood pond. And, last night, as I watched our feeder, number 83 showed up, a Purple Finch.

The Green Herons I saw this morning were not this striking, but beautiful none the less.

It was a Warbler kind of day.

2008-04-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

I arrived lakeside late this morning 7:40 am, but couldn't seem to venture much past the bumper of my car. In a small stand of trees next to the boat ramp/dock, where I always park, the trees were teeming with Pine Warblers, Palm Warblers, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Tree Swallows and Northern Rough Winged Swallows.

With all that activity I was hoping for maybe one new arrival. But if something new was there I didn't see it.

After about 10 minutes of watching all these little guys hoping from branch to branch I was struck that it was much like watching popcorn through binoculars while standing in the kitchen, very challenging.

After that everything was pretty bland until I, quite by chance, came across a Ruby Crowned Kinglet (82) on the far side of the lake. That put a bounce in my step.

After I had completed the circle of the lake and I was again watching the "popcorn", I was blessed with a prolonged view of a searching Osprey. She was magnificent. So enthralled I forgot to snap what would have been a beautiful shot.

What I found interesting was that while the Osprey circled back and forth looking for breakfast, it is primarily a fish eater, the birds in the trees right below were unperturbed by his close proximity. If it had been a Red Tailed Hawk there would not have been a warbler in sight. Is God's design awesome?

BTW, Number (81) was actually viewed last Friday morning at Centennial Lake. A Swamp Sparrow.

A clarification

2008-04-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Lately the pictures have not been mine. We have had several days running of cold, foggy, rainy and generally overcast days here in Maryland. All the photos I have taken lately look something like brown blobs on a gray background. Sometimes the little guys don't hold still long enough .

The header with deer is the only one left that I snapped, most of the earlier photos were ones I took. When the sun shines again I will use my own when possible. Otherwise I will "post" that I used a free non copyrighted photo from the US Fish & Wildlife Service or Wikipedia. Sorry to disappoint, but thanks for reading.

80

2008-04-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

A Savannah Sparrow at Centennial Lake is number 80 for the year.

The Quest Continues

2008-04-09T06:46:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, April 9th.

Very foggy here in Columbia, Maryland.

There seems to be a bit of a lull in the migration process. Today saw only one new sighting, a Common Loon (79) peacefully bobbing in the middle of Lake Elkhorn.

Brown Thrasher

2008-04-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 6th

On a walk around Centennial Lake very early on Sunday morning 6:45 am. I was out before the fishermen. Netted just one new sighting, a Brown Thrasher(78). He is a handsome bird with a wonderful vocal range when it is trying to impress the ladies and declaring his territory. This guy was in the tree top singing his own praises and calling out his warnings. But, usually you will find them literally crashing around in the under growth and brushy parts on a wooded area, hence, the name "thrasher".

2008-04-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday Afternoon, April 5, 2008

Wifey and I decided to take a walk because it was shaping up to be a beautiful morning.
Our first stop was Wilde Lake. Once around the lake netted a Brown Creeper (75) located close by the little bridge at the back of the lake. Also a striking Gold-crowned Kinglet (my wife's first).

Then it was off to Meadowbrook Park because of a second report of the Great Egret being back. I had the first posted sighting back on March 30th

Wifey was able to see the GE and in addition to that we spotted a Pine Warbler (76) and a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (77)

2008-04-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

Thursday PM.

As a storm rolled in from the southwest. I hopped over to Lake Kit. lots of activity but only one new bird. A Black-backed Gull (74), Laying low with several Ring billed gulls and a Herring Gull

A Good Morning at Centenial Lake

2008-04-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday Morning April 3,

This was a very productive morning for finding new birds for the year. I was greatly aided by an experienced birder that walks many of the lakes I do. She pointed me in the right direction for the Golden Crowned Kinglets(71).

Then on her 2 nd pass around the lake, (my first) we saw a pair of Osprey (72), Pine Warblers, Palm Warblers (73). I didn't actually see the pine warbler so I will wait until I actually get a glimpse before recording it here in my journal
l. I would like to just add a quick note about the fellow birder that helped me with several IDs. She usually walks around this particular lake 3 times and then heads over to other birding spots before calling it a morning. Centennial lake is 3 miles around. I thought I was being active by walking it once around every couple of days. I guess this was a reality check. Starting tomorrow I am stepping up the pace.

Other birds worth mentioning were: several Yellow-rumped Warblers , Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, and Rough Winged Swallows skimming over the water and another Chipping Sparrow and possibly a Blue-headed Verio.

2008-04-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

New sighting.

My walk this morning netted one new bird for my list. I believe it to be a First of the Year (FOY) in our area,Howard County, Maryland. It must have soared in on a easterly blowing wind last night. The California Condor., (pix on the right). Its a very docile, seed eating bird that frequents back yard feeders. The great thing about having one of these in the back yards is that it makes the squirrels a little nervous, they tend to stay away while this fellow is noshing on the black oil sunflower seeds.

Great Egret

2008-03-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning March 31st

Meadowbrook Park, Howard County, Maryland

Cold and wet and drizzling. Opening day at OriolePark ( bet that will be fun, 40 degrees wet and windy. Just the way you want to a Baseball Game).

As I emerged from the car and started down the path I looked up and spotted a large white bird. My first reaction was "sea gull", then I realized that this was a LARGE white bird. My first Great Egret of the year. They are not uncommon, but not plentiful and this is just about the time of year they start arriving.

I also spotted a Chipping Sparrow (70). There really wasn't anything else of note, as usual lots of LBJ's (little brown jobs - which covers a wide variety little brown birds that hop from tree to thicket to bush and back) and water fowl.

Go Orioles

No doubt about. God created it.

2008-03-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 30th 7 am

Nothing is quite like being near a body of water at sun rise. This morning as I started around Lake Kittamaqundi. The sun was just peaking through the tree line across the lake and from the south side a Great Blue Heron took off from the cat tails, immediately followed by a second GBH. A light mist raising from the lake's surface with two Herons flying through alternating shade and sun light cast by the trees at lake side. What a beautiful way to start a day. It is times like these that just reaffirms that the fact that God created a awesome universe. It is inconceivable that any of this is just by chance.

As I began my walk feeling very uplifted by the fact there seemed to be a lot of activity around the lake. After the GBH, I spotted a Belted Kingfisher, always a treat, and then a Killdeer (65) working its way along a mud flat. this was another first of the year (FOY).

Other birds were Redwinged Blackbird, Fish Crow, American Crow, lots on Northern Mockingbirds, Song Sparrows, White breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Blue Jay, Ring billed gulls, Canadas, Mallards, and just as I was about to leave, a bald Eagle arrived in a tree on the far side. Time elapsed was may 15 minutes. I was next off the one of my favorite lakes, Wilde Lake just across the hwy. 5 minutes west.

Just the highlights for Wilde lake, Black Crowned night heron, 12 Double crested Cormorants, Northern Flicker and several other woodpeckers and the first swallows of the year for me, Barn Swallows (66), Tree Sparrows (67) and a Northern Rough Winged Swallow (68). I know I am missing some of the peeps and warblers along the shores of these lakes, but hopefully I can get some help when I go on a walk with the local Howard County Bird Club the leaders are always fantastic

My photo was terrible so I picked this off the Internet. Photographic Credit to Alan D. Wilson

A Beautiful Day to be Outside

2008-03-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

American Kestrel

Today is Saturday March 29, . It is unreasonably cold this morning 29+ compared to yesterday temps in the high 50's to low 60's. But as I am finding out; cold, miserable weather is good if you want to go birding. Birds are more active because they need to find plenty of nourishment to keep up their body temperature. There is not much body under all those feathers and therefore they need a tremendous amount of food in order to stay warm this time of year. Their quest for food has a more immediate urgency, it is not as plentiful . Most of last year's readily available food, fruit, seeds, insects, etc. is depleted. Because of the still cool to cold temps not much is available yet.

So keep your feeders full for all of our year round residents as well as the immigrants that are passing though.

Today, as I said is Saturday, and therefore I was able to take my lovely wife along. She is a great companion and I love our time spent walking around the paths and trails in our area. We decided to go to the Howard County Farm Conservancy out on Rt.99. It is beautiful countryside. We were a little disappointed in the lack of wildlife but we enjoyed our time immensely.

Here is the list: American Robin, Caroline Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Turkey Vulture, American Goldfinch, House Finch, House Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Common Grackle, Eastern Towhee (63) American Kestrel (64), Eastern Bluebirds, Red Winged Blackbirds, Mourning Doves, Canada Geese, Red bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Northern mocking Bird, Eastern Phoebe, American Crow, White breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow, European Starling, and White-throated Sparrow.

I am sure that we also Spotted some kinglets, but since i could not positively ID them they won't count. But if was go to get the Easter Towhee and the American Kestrel (She had a small snake in her talons). Mmm m'good.

Number Sixty-One & Sixty-Two

2008-03-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2008

On my morning walk at Centennial Lake, along with all the usual waterfowl , Mallards, Canada Goose, Hooded mergansers, Buffleheads, and 3 Horned Grebes (61) was also a LESSER SCAUP (62), only two scaup species indigenous to North America, the Greater and Lesser. The Greater prefers saltwater and the Lesser is a freshwater bird, and number 62 on my list. This is also a life list bird for me.

In addition to the Lesser and the Horned Grebes there were, Northern Mockingbirds, Northern cardenals, Red-winged Blackbirdds, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, AMerican Crows, Fish Crows, Common Grackles, Starlings, House finches, American Goldfinches, Carolina Wrens, Hooden Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese, Buffleheads.

61 - Horned Grebe - CL Mar-29

62 - Lesser Scaup - CL - Mar-29

That is all for now, and it is still morning

The list continues........

2008-03-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Since I am working from behind with three months of data, I am going to catch up the list as quickly as possible by posting everything over two or three posts. This is going to be in chronological order as best as I can with a site/location noted.
Legend for the birding sites are:
Centennial Lake = CL
Lake Elkhorn = LE
Jackson Pond = JP
Sewell's Orchard Ponds = SO
Wilde Lake = WL
Lake Kittamaqundi = LK
Forebay Cove = FC
My backyard = BY
Tridelphia Resovour = TR

I generally walk one or more of these lake each day.

15 - Red tailed Hawk - LE - Jan-02
16 - Mallard - LE - Jan-02
17 - Canada Goose - LE - Jan-02
18 - European Starling - LE - Jan-02
19 - Turkey Vulture - LE - Jan-02
20 - Great Blue Heron - LE - Jan-02
21 - Bufflehead - LE - Jan-02
22 - Red bellied Woodpecker - LE -Jan-02 w/photo
23 - Red winged Blackbird - LE - Jan-02
24 - Red shouldered Hawk - LE - Jan 02
25 - Hooded Merganser - LE - Jan-02
26 - Song Sparrow - LE - Jan-02
27 - Ring billed Gull - LE - Jan-02
28 - Eastern Bluebird - LE - Jan-02
29 - Ring-necked Duck - LE - Jan-02
30 - Northern Flicker - JP - Jan-03
31 - White breasted Nuthatch - BY - Jan-03
32 - Yellow bellied Sapsucker - LE - Jan-05
33 - China White Goose - Daniels - Feb 18
34 - Canvas back Duck - CL - Jan-05
35 - Belted Kingfisher - LK - Jan-07 and again at WL & CL w/ Photos
36 - Ruddy Duck -WL - Jan 07
37 - American Robin - BY - Feb-10
38 - Bald Eagle - TR - Feb-17 w/ Photos. Seven counted this day.
39 - Common Mergansers - TR - Feb-17 w/ Photos. Hundreds on the water
40 - Fox Sparrow - LE - Feb-24
41 - Brown headed Cowbird - BY - Feb-24
42 - Common Grackle - BY - Feb-24
43 - Pied billed Grebe - TR - Feb-24
44 - Hairy Woodpecker - FC - Feb-25
45 - Red Necked Grebe - WL - Feb-25 w/ Photos- A rare bird for Howard County, MD. and
still at Wilde Lake as of Mar 26th
46 - Black Vulture - Everywhere everyday.
47 - Sharp-shinned Hawk - LE - Mar-03 w/ Photo
48 - Herring Gull - WL - Feb-27
49 - Cedar Waxwings - CL - Feb-28
50 - Rock Pigeons - Everywhere
51 - Eastern Phoebe - WL - Feb-27 and again on March 26th
52 - Common Golden eye - CL - Feb-28
53 - American Coot - CL - Mar-04 later on WL (3-26) and SO (3-24)
54 - Fish Crow - CL - Mar-4
55 - Hermit Thrush - CL - Mar-4 w/ Photo and again w/HCBC on Mar-09
56 - Cooper's Hawk - CL - Mar-09 w/HCBC
57 - Yellow Rumped Warbler - CL - Mar-09 w/HCBC
58 - Great Horned Owl - Snowden River PKWY - Mar-10 w/HCBC w/ Photos and story
see this link http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Danaover40/
59 - Double Crested Cormorant - WL - Mar-26 w/Photos
60 - Black crowned Night Heron - WL - Mar-26 w/ Photos

2008-03-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Every good list starts at the beginning. I started with January 1, 2008 in my back yard with the first visitors to our feeders hanging off our deck at the rear of the house.

1 - Mourning Dove
2 -Tufted titmouse
3 - House Finch
4 - American Crow
5 - Carolina Chichadee
6 - American Gold finch
7 - Dark-eyed Junco
8 - White thoated Sparrow
9 - House Sparrow
10 - Northern Cardinal
11 - Blue Jay
12 - Downey Woodpecker
13 - Northern Mockingbird
14 - Carolina Wren

I was hoping for a more fruitful day, but it was not to be. Last year I was able to count 34 without leaving the comfort of my family room.

An American Coot

2008-03-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have set this blog up to track my birding activities starting with Jan 1, 2008. to see how many birds I can add to my list in one year in Howard County Maryland and a second list that will be cumulative. I may be adding other lists if I take any trips that will allow me to do any birding.

When possible I will post photos that I have taken of each species. My equipment is not high end and I am not an accomplishes photographer. I do get lucky once in awhile. If possible I will post available photos of better quality.