| MBC Bird Central |
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Last updated: 07/30/2010 |
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MARCH 2 (Tuesday) INFORMAL LATE AFTERNOON WALKS UNTIL DUSK. Joint MBC/ANS trips. Meet at the end of Seneca Rd at Riley's Lock "on the bridge" at 5 p.m. After checking out the river we will proceed to Hughes Hollow. Highlights here will include waterfowl flying into roost. We will try for displaying woodcock if they are in the vicinity. Bring scope, flashlight, and wear "muddy conditions" footwear. Reservations not required. For more info call Jim Green at 301-208-2393. MARCH 4 (Thursday) INFORMAL LATE AFTERNOON WALKS UNTIL DUSK. See March 2 listing. MARCH 9 (Tuesday) INFORMAL LATE AFTERNOON WALKS UNTIL DUSK. See March 2 listing.
MARCH 13 (Saturday). JUG BAY, PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY. Half day. Joint trip with ANS. Possible Rusty Blackbirds, migrating Wilson's Snipe, and courtship display of Osprey. Meet 8 a.m. Call leader for details and driving instructions. Check ANS News for more info. Reservations required. LEADER: John Bjerke, 240-401-1643. MARCH 16 (Tuesday) INFORMAL LATE AFTERNOON WALKS UNTIL DUSK. See March 2 listing.
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April 2010
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APRIL 17 (Saturday) BLUE MASH NATURE
TRAIL. Half day. Interesting walk at this
relatively new and surprisingly birdy site in Montgomery
County. Waterproof boots helpful. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Zion
Road parking lot. Call leader for reservations and
directions. Limit: 8–10 participants. LEADER: Mark England,
240-207-3132 (h), cell, 240-375-4500.
APRIL 18 (Sunday) HUGH MAHANES
PRESIDENTS' WALK AT HUGHES HOLLOW AND VICINITY.
Half day. Our traditional Presidents’ Walk in a new season!
Participation of all former Club Presidents is encouraged,
and everyone is welcome. This is a wonderful chance for
newer birders to be in the field with “old hands” who enjoy
sharing what they know. With a variety of habitats, Hughes
Hollow is always interesting in spring. Depending on where
interesting birds have been seen, we may also visit nearby
areas. We will look for waterbirds on the move and early
songbird migrants. Possible birds include Purple Finches,
Blue-winged Teal, swallows, and maybe even an American
Bittern. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Hughes Hollow parking lot
in the McKee-Beshers WMA. Reservations required. For more
information, directions, and reservations, contact the
leader. LEADER: Jim Nelson, 301-530-6574 or
kingfishers2@verizon.net. RESULTS:
Seventeen
birders, including 5 present or former Presidents of the
Club, met on a very chilly, gray mid-April day to explore
migrants and lingerers at Hughes Hollow and adjacent
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April 21 (Wednesday), 7:30 p.m. “Wildlife and History of Five Remote Tropical Island Refuges.” Doug Forsell. |
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APRIL 29 (Thursday) and MAY 2 (Sunday) BIRD
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS. On Thursday we will meet in
Bethesda from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and discuss notions of
photographic technique, equipment, and philosophy pertinent
to enjoying bird photography. On Sunday we will meet for a
field trip from 8 a.m. to 12 noon to photograph any and all
birds that cooperate. Limited to 6–8 participants. For more
information and reservations, contact the leader. LEADER:
Evelyn Ralston, 301-493-4132 or
evelynsr@verizon.net. Rain date: Sunday, May 9. |
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MAY 1
(Saturday) PIGTAIL AND TRIADELPHIA.
One-third day. Joint trip with Howard County, in conjunction with WSSC.
Meet at Green Bridge Rd. parking lot, off Triadelphia Mill Rd.
in Howard County. The cove is bordered on three sides by
deciduous and coniferous woods. Extensive mudflats may exist
with the possibility of shorebirds. Facilities available (but
rustic). LEADER: Joe Hanfman,
auk1844@comcast.net, 410-772-8424.
MAY 2 (Sunday) LITTLE BENNETT RP. Half day. Near peak migration for MAY 4 (Tuesday) ROCK CREEK PARK, DC. One third day. Early migrant warblers, vireos, etc. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Picnic Area #18, one-half mile below the Nature Center on Ridge Road. Limit: 8. Reservations required. Call the leader for more information or specific directions. LEADER: Wallace Kornack, 202-338-7859 RESULTS:
MAY 5 (Wednesday) EXPLORING CALVERT
COUNTY. Three-quarter day. Sue Hamilton will
guide us as we cover some of the birding hotspots of Calvert
County. Participants will meet at 7 a.m. at the road leading to
Flag Ponds. We’ll begin at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp and move
on to other spots before we stop for lunch on the beach.
Reservations required. Limit: 10. Call the coordinators for
detailed directions and more information. LEADER: Sue Hamilton.
COORDINATORS: Lydia Schindler, 301-977-5252, and Linda
Friedland, 301-983 2136.
MAY 7 (Friday) BIRDING BY EAR ALONG THE
C&O.
The emphasis is
on listening so tune up your ears for this half-day canal walk.
We’ll be on the lookout for nesting and migrant landbirds. Meet
at 7 a.m. at the end of Pennyfield Lock Rd. Reservations
required. For more information and reservations, call the
leaders: Cyndie Loeper, 301-530-8226, or Ann Lucy, 301-229-8810.
MAY 16 (Sunday) ROCK CREEK PARK, DC. See May 4 description. Reservations required. Limit: 6. LEADER: Wallace Kornack, 202-338-7859.
RESULTS:
Rock
Creek Park, Leader: Wallace Kornack---I led five
individuals on a tour of the Ridge, Maintenance Yard and Nature
Center. After an unpromising start the birding began to pick up
as the clouds gave way to some sun. At the Ridge we had a
Canada Warbler, Northern Parula, and Black-and-white Warbler
near the top of a tall chestnut oak. Across the road we
were treated to the song of the Tennessee Warbler and to a view
of a female Baltimore Oriole emerging from its nest in a low
hanging limb. On the path to the Maintenance Yard we could hear
the melodic Wood Thrush and the insistent song of the
Ovenbird. In the Yard the group got to see Swainson's
Thrush, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia
Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and number of the the more
usual suspects. TheYard's locust tree presented Northern
Parula, Blackburnian Warbler and the less often seen Wilson's
Warbler. The walk around the Nature Center was unusually quiet.
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| May 19 (Wednesday), 7:30p.m. “East Pacific Odyssey or ... If It’s Tuesday It Must Be Ecuador.” Gail Mackiernan. | |
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MAY 22 (Saturday) HOT SPOTS FOR RED
KNOTS. Full day. Joint trip with Howard
County. We will start at 8:30 a.m. at the visitor center at
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and work our way north along
the Bay. We will also visit the handsome and informative nature
center at Mispillion Lighthouse, which offers great views of Red
Knots and other shorebirds. We will go until dark or exhaustion,
whichever comes first. Bring binoculars, scopes, food, water,
sunscreen, loads of insect repellent. Trip is limited to 12
persons/3 vehicles per chapter. Reservations required. Kurt
Schwarz (krschwa1@comcast.net
or 410-461-1643) will co-lead for Howard Co. For reservations
and information, contact co-leader Cyndie Loeper,
cyndieloeper@comcast.net or
240-535- 8584. |
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RESULTS:
Trip Report for May
22 Hot Spots for Red Knots: 16 participants and four co-leaders.
Bill Stewart again joined us as the local, well informed,
charismatic guide. We registered 16 species of shorebirds with a
day count of 94 species, thanks to the well roundedness of the
HoCo leaders. One complication was that Mispillion/Dupont Nature
Center was hosting a Shorebird Festival requiring shuttle buses
from satellite parking and anticipating crowding on the
platform. We, reluctantly, decided to forego that option despite
its historic productivity. Later reports indicated that it was
not prohibitively crowded, but also not very productive. Our
beach hopping included Broadkill, Fowlers, Ted Harvey, and ended
at Bombay Hook. Fowler’s proved the most productive to include a
few Red knots and Short-billed Dows featuring mostly Griseus
subspecies but a few Hendersoni. It also hosted skimming
Skimmers, Least Terns, Royal Terns, and Common Terns seen by
some. A Bonaparte Gull was observed and an errant Bufflehead. We
had good studies of Least and Semi Sands as well as dramatic
views of Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, an Oystercatcher, and
Clapper Rails. Also the requisite Black-crowned Night Herons
were in evidence and a Seaside Sparrow was viewed in the scope.
Kurt had an impressive split second, but identifiable view, of a
Least Bittern at Ted Harvey. |
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June 2010
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June 11-13 (Friday–Sunday), MOS Annual Conference. This year’s conference will be held in Kent County, with accommodations at Washington College in Chestertown. heck The Maryland Yellowthroat for registration information as the date approaches.
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July 2010
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JULY 24 (Saturday)DELAWARE
COASTAL AREAS: Bombay Hook, Little
Creek, Logan Tract. Join us for a full day joint trip with
ANS. Shorebirds, marsh birds, and some songbirds. Bring packed
lunch and drinks. Meet 8:00 am at Bombay Hook Visitor Center
parking lot. For reservations (15-person limit) and more
information contact LEADER: John Bjerke, 240-401-1643. Cyndie
Loeper will co-lead. |
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August 25 (Wednesday) LEADER’S CHOICE! Half day. Meet at Riley’s Lock on the bridge overlooking the Potomac River at 7:30 a.m. Bring scope, snack, and insect repellent. Trip will cover parts of the C&O Canal and other areas along River Road. All are welcome. Reservations not required. For more info and directions, contact LEADER: Jim Green, 301-208-2393 or jgreen@smokeyglenfarm.com.
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September
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September 8 (Wednesday) LITTLE BENNETT RP. Half day. Meet at 7:30 a.m. to bird some of the trails of Little Bennett Park for migrant and resident birds. Expect to walk 2-3 miles on gravel and dirt trails, with some uphill. Beginners welcome! Reservations required. Limit: 8. For reservations and directions contact the LEADER: Claire Wolfe 301- 972-4278 or c_wolfe2003@yahoo.com.
September 11 (Saturday) ASSATEAGUE ISLAND/COASTAL WORCESTER.Full day (to dusk). Bring food, water, sunscreen, insect repellent. Focus will be migrant warblers, shorebirds, and rarities such as Lark Sparrow. Reservations required. Max 14 participants. Co-leaders Bill Hubick and Jim Brighton. For reservations and directions, contact LEADER: Bill Hubick bill_hubick@yahoo.com.
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September 12 ( Sunday) PENNYFIELD TO VIOLETTE’S BIRD STALK. Half day. For folks who prefer a somewhat later start to their birding, we will meet at 9 a.m. at Violette’s Lock parking lot, end of Violette’s Lock Road. We will carpool to Pennyfield Lock and walk up the C&O Canal towpath to Violette’s Lock. This walk should net an interesting mix of late warblers, landbird migrants, and probably a few first-show winter visitors, as we scan the skies and river for raptors and waterbirds. If you plan to attend, contact LEADER: Jim Nelson, kingfishers2@verizon.net or 301-530-6574. September 15(Wednesday) ROCK CREEK PARK, D.C. Urban birding at its best with one of Rock Creek Park’s “Regulars.” One-third day. Migrant warblers, vireos and sparrows. Meet 7.a.m. at Picnic Area 18 (on Ridge Rd, 1/2 mile below Nature Center.) Reservations required. For reservations and directions call the LEADER: Wallace Kornack, 202-338-7859. September 18 (Saturday) SNICKER’S GAP, VA. 2/3 day. Joint trip with ANS. Migrant songbird watching at 7:30 a.m. along nearby Appalachian Trail. Migrant raptors starting about 9:30 a.m. from commuter parking lot near Round Hill, VA. Bring cushions or chairs. Meet 7:30 a.m. at commuter parking (9:30 a.m. for raptors). Make reservation with leaders Joan Boudreau and Bob Abrams 703/734-1238. Bring pack lunch, drinks; rain/wind gear. Call leaders for directions. September 18 (Saturday) Patuxent River Park, Jug Bay Natural Area, MD Half day; joint trip with ANS. Driftboat on Patuxent River followed by trail walk. Migrant and resident songbirds and waterbirds; Sora likely. Meet 6:30 a.m. at park entrance gate. Bring fee of $5/person for park program; boat trip can be cool and a bit damp. Leaders: Paul Baicich and Greg Kearns. Make reservations (15-person limit) with Kathy Wilson at ANS, 301-652-9188 ext 10. From the Capital Beltway (I-495),take Exit 11A (Pennsylvania Avenue), Route 4 east for 8 miles. Take Route 301 south for 1.7 miles. Turn left on Croom Station Road and continue for 1.6 miles. Turn left on Croom Road (Route 382) and proceed for 1.5 miles. Turn left on Croom Airport Road and continue for 2 miles. At park entrance, turn left and proceed 1.7 miles to park office. September 19 (Sunday) ROCK CREEK PARK, D.C. We’ve expanded our urban bird walks to include those who can meet only on weekends. One- third day. Same great birds: migrant warblers, vireos and sparrows. Meet at 6:45 am at Picnic Area 18 (on Ridge Rd, ½ mile below the nature center) (Note the earlier meeting time necessary to secure a parking spot.) Reservations required. For reservations and directions call the LEADER: Wallace Kornack, 202-338-7859 September 25 (Saturday) UPPER WATTS BRANCH PARK, ROCKVILLE. Half day. Migrant warblers, vireos, thrushes, and assorted woodland residents. Meet 8 a.m. at corner of Princeton Place and Fordham Street. Reservations required. Limit:12. LEADER: Paul O’Brien, 301-424-6491. September 26 (Sunday) LOIS Y. GREEN CONSERVATION PARK. Half Day. Explore the varied habitats of this relatively new 204-acre Montgomery County park. Migrant/resident songbirds, raptors, waterfowl are possible. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at parking lot on Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, Md. Reservations required. For detailed directions and reservations call LEADER: Mark England 240-207-3132 (home), 240-375-4500 (cell)
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October
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October 3 (Saturday) LITTLE BENNETT RP. Half day. Everyone welcome but we’ll target new
birders and focus on some birding basics. Join us for a
slow-paced walk listening for and observing common species. Late
warblers and vireos, early sparrows, and some raptors possible.
Limit: 8. For reservations, time, and meeting place contact the
LEADER: Gemma Radko, 301-514-2894. |
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November
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November 7 (Sunday) LOIS GREEN PARK.
Half day. Explore the varied
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December 12 (Sunday) OCCOQUAN NWR, VA.
1/2 day. Bring snacks and warm drinks for the
trails. Those who wish can join the leader at a locally popular
restaurant for lunch following the trip. We will look for field
birds, especially sparrows, and waterfowl. Established in 1998,
Occoquan NWR is located at the confluence of the Potomac and
Occoquan Rivers. Wetland habitats cover about 50% of the refuge;
upland meadows and mature oak-hickory-beech forest are
interspersed among the wetlands. Meet 8 a.m. at the refuge car
park. Reservations required. Directions: the refuge is located
in Woodbridge VA, 20 miles south of Washington. From the north:
take 195 south to exit 161 (Woodbridge), follow Rte 1 South,
cross the Occoquan River, turn left at light onto Dawson Beach
Road. Follow road to end at entrance to refuge and proceed on
same road to large parking lot on right. LEADER: Mike Bowen,
301- 530-5764 or e-mail
dhmbowen@yahoo.com
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Send calendar additions and corrections to field trip coordinator Linda Friedland
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