The long and short of it.

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

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.

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

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

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

The Quest Continues

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

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".