Volume 20 Number 3

May - June 2007

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CONTENTS

Summer Social and Birds
May Count 2007
Calendar of Events
Harford Birdlife
Field Trip Schedule
Field Trip Reports. . .
Big Bend & Hill Country Texas
Summer Social

Well... in what seemed like a span of a week spring has come and gone, which means now we can concentrate a bit on yard work and get ready for our summer social! The social is of course at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, our gracious host over the past several years thanks in no small part to Wrenderings columnist Becky Gallo who makes sure the building is open and ready to go.

Our keynote speaker is Bill Barber, a birder that has frequented the great Adirondack Mountains and has many bird photos and stories to show from his travels. His talk will likely include the elusive Gray Jay, which every birder on the planet has apparently had standing on a picnic table four feet away, but which I have never seen in upwards of twenty Adirondack trips, two journeys to Canada, and several other trips to supposedly Gray Jay infested areas like New Hampshire, Maine, and Colorado. Frankly, I do not think the bird really exists! Hopefully Bill will show me otherwise!

Our previous speaker, Dr. Kim Derrickson, concentrated quite a bit on the science behind the song of many of our local birds. His fascinating presentation at Harford Glen gave all in attendance a different perspective on the lives of birds, and it is hard to see a bird singing and not think about the biology behind bird behaviors after seeing it. The meeting location provided some nice birding prior to gathering, with bluebirds, swallows, and even a Great-blue Heron or two greeting us before we listened to Dr. Derrickson explain their behaviors!

At the May meeting our annual elections were held, with most officer positions staying the same. The newcomer this time around is Susan Hood, who will take over the reigns as Recording Secretary, a position held for some time now by Emily Hines. Susan has big shoes to fill, but now doubt will jump right in to her new role and start where Emily left off. Special thanks to Emily for all your years of dedicated service to the Harford Bird Club and to Susan for taking over this vital officer position for us!

Finally... I am deep in the scheduling of speakers for next year, and to day we have two firm commitments. Club stalwart and favorite trip leader Dave Ziolokowski will be speaking in January. His presentation, "Panama: Pulling the Tails of Natural History in a land of Winged Jewels and Poo-slinging Monkeys", which will undoubtedly include humorous reflections on this summer's trip to Panama (it HAS to be funny with a title like that!), is sure to be doubly special for members of the Harford Bird Club as some will have been on Dave's trip! The March presenters may be familiar to our club as well... Jean and Larry Fry will be returning to Harford County to share with us the thrills and spills of "Birding Down Under", a reflection of their journey to Australia!

Still waiting to hear from perspective speakers for the November, May, and July meetings for next year; when they are scheduled, be sure to read about them here in Wrenderings! (Cool commercial!) In the meantime... best birding wishes to all... Russ Kovach

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Fantastic! This was the term used most when describing the experience counting birds this year on May 12. Weather conditions were optimal creating a condition where a warm weather front had recently arrived bringing light southeasterly winds. A cold front to the north conceivably kept some migrants from moving though quickly. Although it seemed like it was a great day for birdwatching, the numbers of species found were equal to last year's.

In general, numbers found were smaller than previous years. More than 87% of the total numbers of species were found by the dynamic team of Webb and Kovach, which logged about 19 hours in the field. This year, counters concentrated in the southern and eastern areas of the county. No reports from the northern or western areas of the county were submitted.

High points include a seemingly greater abundance of birds that have tended to be declining based on previous count results. Hooded and Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers were greatly increased compared with previous years. Thanks to the efforts of Webb and Kovach, Whip-poor-will numbers are up and exceeding that of Mourning Dove.

It is difficult to make many decisive statements regarding differences between years because of variation in observer proficiencies and relative effort. Assuming all parties had the same level of prowess and 'luck' in finding birds, effort could be a function of the number of parties, individuals, hours spent and miles covered. In the table below effort was determined by dividing the number of parties by the number of participants within each party, then multiplying the number of total miles, hours, then both. Based upon this rough comparison, birds per unit effort were increased over previous years with the exception of 2003 when individuals per unit effort was greatest.

Since the timing of the count is consistent with the height of warbler migration, an evaluation of warbler numbers and species between years could be made. In the table below, numbers of warbler individuals were compared with number of miles/participants/parties and total effort (miles*hours*parties/participants). This shows that for the number of warblers/effort, the top three years were 2003, 2005, and 2007. Overall, 2003 was slightly more productive than 2007. However, it was interesting to observe that the numbers of warblers (individuals)/mile was best in 2006 when adjusting for number of parties and participants. This suggests participants found more warblers covering a smaller distance (or higher densities of warblers) than for other years'.

This year's count included seven parties consisting of 12 observers. Phil Powers covered the Joppatowne area and found both orioles and two species of sandpipers. Les Eastman and Spike Updegrove both covered their respective historical areas of northeastern Harford and Churchville/Aldino, respectively. Les found an impressive 16 warbler species including Hooded, Worm-eating, and Canada. Spike found 78 species including Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, and a Wilson's Warbler. Mark and Leanne Pemburn covered their home area of Creswell and found 45 species including Hooded, Canada, and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Mark Johnson, Suzanne Procell and John Paul covered the APG-Edgewood Area and found 83 species including Blackburnian, Magnolia and Nashville Warblers, and a cooperative Yellow-breasted Chat. Rick Cheicante and David Larkin found an impressive 103 species at Susky State Park including 28 warbler species!! As previously mentioned, David Webb and Russ Kovach found 131 species, 21 species of which were warblers. They found Cerulean and Hooded Warblers and the only Summer Tanager for the count. Additionally, they found four species of owls and 77 Whip-poor-wills. Thanks to all who participated and who got me their results in a timely manner! Mark Johnson

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March - April 2007: Thank you! I have to tell you because we had so many sightings for March and April I had to sift through 14 pages to decide what to print - 30 birders saw 152 species of birds and counted over 3800 individuals in 2 months. On April 22nd and 29th it seemed like everyone was at Swan Harbor or Susquehanna State Park or both - were you tripping over each other? Initials are used to give credit to birders but to save space if you see SH it means Swan Harbor and SSP means Susquehanna State Park.

Swan, Ducks, Gamebird, Grebes. During migration Tundra Swans were counted in Long Bar Harbor (GDY March), SH (JG 3/3, MoH 3/10, 4/6), Havre de Grace (CW 3/14, 3/19, MoH 3/25). Wood Ducks are know for being shy but they were seen at SH (MoH 3/10, KG 4/22), SSP (CC 4/11, KG 4/12) and Harford Glen (RC 4/21). DL saw 2 Gadwall at Lakeside on 3/11. MoH saw 2 American Black Ducks at SH on 3/10 and KG saw 6 at SSP on 4/12. Blue-winged Teal rested at Swan Harbor on 3/23, 4/13, 4/20, 4/21, 4/22, 4/29, at Spesutie Island on 4/19 and at Harford Glen on 4/21. KG and MH counted 2 Northern Shovelers at SH on 4/22. JG counted over 300 Northern Pintails resting at SH on 3/3 by 3/10 there were only 11 MoH. Green-winged Teal stopped by SH on 3/3, 3/10, 3/23, 4/13, 4/22, 4/29, at Lakeside on 4/1, and at Harford Glen on 4/21. Five Ring-necked Ducks were at SH on 3/3 (JG). Lesser Scaup migrated through the area stopping by Lakeside and Havre de Grace. CW saw 9 Bufflehead in Havre de Grace on 3/14 and KG saw 2 at SSP on 4/12. Twenty Hooded Mergansers were swimming at SSP on 3/7 and 3/12 (CW). KG was the only one to report Common Mergansers (SSP 4/12). MH was the only one to report Red-breasted Mergansers (Lapidum 4/22). Six Wild Turkeys couldn't hide from SG in Street on 3/3. CW heard one in SSP on 3/04. Pied-billed Grebes made an appearance at the Promenade on (3/13, 3/14 CW) and SH (4/22 KG WF GF), (4/29 BR DT SC). One Horned Grebe was spotted at Lapidum (SM 4/3) (CC 4/11). A Red-necked Grebe stayed in Havre de Grace for the month of March (CW 3/11, 3/13, 3/14) (MoH 3/11) (DW 3/18) and moved up river to SSP on 4/11 (CC).

Herons, Ibis. American Bitterns showed off at SH this spring (WF GF 4/22), (MH 4/22), (JS 4/24) (BR DT 4/29) (JC) and at Lakeside (DL 4/29). Great Egrets were spotted at Lakeside (DL), Harford Glen (RC) and Swan Harbor (MoH, BR, DT). LJJ saw a Green Heron in SSP on 4/28. Black-crowned Night-Herons nest near Tydings Marina (3/13, 3/14 CW) and were seen in SSP 4/11 CC, 4/12 KG. MoH saw 1 Glossy Ibis at SH on 3/23 and KG saw it on 4/22.

Hawks, Falcon. Everyone is keeping an eye out for our nesting Ospreys - Beta Shoe Site (CW, GR), cell tower near Bulle Rock (CW), carrying nest material over Havre de Grace Lighthouse (CW), flying over Lakeside (DL), SSP (CC, KG, SC, MoH) , flying through SH (KG) and at the Conowingo Dam (MoH). A Northern Harrier was spotted at SSP on 3/7 by CW, 4/29 by SC and at Swan Harbor on 4/29 by SC. A Sharp-shinned Hawk was at SH on 3/3 (JG) and again on 3/10 (MoH). Another one was in SSP on 4/29 (MoH). In SSP a Cooper's Hawk was seen by MoH on 4/1, 4/18, 4/29, CC on 4/11 and SC on 4/29. CW saw an American Kestrel near the intersection of 136 and 155 on 3/2 and KG saw an one in SSP on 4/12.

Rails, Plovers, Sandpipers. A Virginia Rail was seen at SH on 4/22 by KG. A Sora Rail was seen by WF, GF, MH, JC on 4/22 at SH. Spotted Sandpipers stopped by SSP (RC 4/27) (SC MoH 4/29), Lakeside (DL 4/29). One Solitary Sandpiper was counted at SH on 4/29 by BR & DT; DK saw 15 off of Madonna Road in a wet field on 4/30. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were found at Harford Glen, Lakeside, Spesutie Island, SH, and off of Madonna Road. JC saw 7 Semipalmated Sandpipers at SH. Least Sandpipers were seen at SH on 4/22, 28, and 29. CS picked out a lone Dunlin while birding Spesutie Island on 4/19. Wilson's Snipe were at SH on 3/5, 3/6 and 4/22 and 4/29. DL saw 1 at Lakeside on 4/29. SG saw 1 American Woodcock in Street on 3/3, CW saw 1 at Harford Community College on 3/7 and DW saw 1 in Webster on 3/17.

Owls, Swift, Hummingbird, Woodpeckers. DB heard a Barred Owl in Street on 4/22 and 4/29. Chimney Swifts were seen at Harford Glen, SH and SSP. The first Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen in Abingdon on 4/28 by DL. KG saw a Red-headed Woodpecker in Jarrettsville on 4/27. Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker sightings were reported from Havre de Grace (MoH) and SSP (CC, KG, MoH). Downy Woodpeckers were also at SH (KG, JG). CC saw 1 Hairy Woodpecker in SSP on 4/11. MoH, CC, KG and JG reported Northern Flickers at SH and SSP. There were Pileated Woodpeckers at SH (JG 3/3, KG 4/22), SBHs' backyard (3/10) and SSP (CS 4/20).

Flycatchers, Vireos, Swallows. A Least Flycatcher was seen by DK near Madonna Road on 4/30. Eastern Phoebes were reported in SSP (CC, KG, CS, SC), Harford Glen (RC), and SH (KG). GR, BR, DT, SC, LJJ, and DL saw Great Crested Flycatchers during the month of April. White-eyed Vireos were seen by SM, MJ, DL, BR, DT, SC, MoH. In SSP RC saw 2 Yellow-throated Vireos on 4/27 and SC saw 1 on 4/29. Blue-headed Vireos migrated through SH (KG & MH 4/22) and SSP (RC 4/27) (LJJ 4/28). Warbling Vireos were seen in SSP and at Lakeside. One was heard singing off of Madonna Road. LJJ, BR, DT, and SC saw Red-eyed Vireos in SSP on 4/29. The first Purple Martins were reported for the season at Lapidum on 4/3 (SM). Tree Swallows were seen at Tydings Marina, SH, Otter Creek Wetlands, Harford Glen and SSP. Northern Rough-winged Swallows were reported by CC, KG, SC (SSP), by KG (SH) and by DL (Lakeside). Barn Swallows migrated back to SSP, SH, and Harford Glen.

Creeper, Wren, Kinglets, Gnatcatcher, Thrushes. Brown Creepers were reported in Street and SSP. SC saw 1 Winter Wren in SSP on 4/14. Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen in SSP on 4/11 (CC) and 4/14 (SC). Ruby-Crowned Kinglets and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were see at Harford Glen, SSP and SH during the Month of April. RC saw a Hermit Thrush at Harford Glen on 4/21. Wood Thrushes were common in SSP and SH.

Warblers. Warblers that were reported are as follows: Blue-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler (yellow), Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Hood Warbler.

Tanagers, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Blackbirds, Orioles. SC saw 2 Scarlet Tanagers in SSP on 4/29. Eastern Towhees were seen in SSP (CC) and SH (MoH). Sparrows that were reported are as follows: Chipping Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and White- throated Sparrow. MDW saw 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at their feeder on 4/28. MaH saw 2 male Red- breasted Grosbeaks at her feeder on 4/29. Indigo Buntings came back on 4/24 in Baldwin and 4/29 in SSP. Bobolinks were spotted at SH on 4/29 and on DK's farm on 4/30. KG saw 5 Rusty Blackbirds in SSP on 4/12. Orchard Orioles and Baltimore Orioles were seen in SSP and at Lakeside.

Visitor, Escapee. JT saw 1 Black-headed Gull at the Conowingo Dam on 4/1. MoH saw 2 Chukars on Canvasback Road in Havre de Grace on 3/24 and 3/30.

Contributors
CC - Chuck Chalfant, RC - Rick Cheicante, SC - Steve Collins, JC - John Cupp, JG - John Gallo, GF- Gallo Family, KG - Kevin Graff, SG - Steve Grossi, MH - Matt Hafner, MoH - Monroe Harden, MaH - Marjie Heagy, SBH - Susan & Bob Hood, MJ - Mark Johnson, LJJ - Lin & Jim Just, DK - Dennis Kirkwood, DL - Dave Larkin, SM - Sean McCandless, GR - Glen Randers-Pehrson, BR - Bob Ringler, CS - Chris Starling, JS - Jerry Strickroth, JT - John Taylor, DT - Debbie Terry, DW - Dave Webb, MDW - Marsha & Danny Webb, CW - Colleen Webster, GDY - George and Donna Yorkston, WF - Webb Family

I want to thank everyone who contributed. The next article will have sightings from May 1 - June 30, 2007. You can call me with sightings - 410-459-8873 or email me. Please send the reports to me as you see them. Thanks and Happy Birding!

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Field Trip Schedule
by Colleen Webster

 RESERVATION FORM


Please return to Russ Kovach, 2116 Glen Cove Road, Darlington, MD  21034
by Wednesday, July 11, 2007.

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                Please make checks payable to Harford County MOS.

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Include address and phone number if you would like transportation to the meeting.
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