MARYLAND BIRDLIFE SutLtin ikz MuzljL nA (Q*LnLt(i o h iaut cSocUty, line. DECEMBER X 9 7 4 VOLUME 30 NUMBER 4 MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21209 STATE OFFICERS FOR MAY 11, 1974 TO MAY, 1975 President : First V.P. : Second V. P.: Secretary: Exec. Sec ' y : Treasurer : Barclay E. Tucker, l4l7 Grafton Shop Rd. , Bel Air 21014 838-6269 Mr. Floyd Parks, 129 Washington Ave., Chestertown 21620 778-2112 Dr. Donald Messersmith,104l8 Brookmoor Dr,SilvrSpg 20901 593-5942 Mrs. John Ford, 4o8 Beach Drive, Annapolis 21403 267-8417 Mrs. C. B. Perryclear, 204 St. David Ct, Cockeysvl 21030 666-38l4 Mr. W. Gordon MacGregor, 5009 Greenleaf Rd, Balto 21210 435-3044 Mr. Carl W. Carlson Mrs. Dorothy Mendinhall Mr. Edvard Peters Mr. John W. Poteet , Jr. Col. Leland S. Devore Mr. Charles Vaughn Mr. August E. Selckmann EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 5706 Lone Oak Drive, Bethesda 20014 Damsite, R.D. 2, Chestertovn 21620 107. Williams Circle, Williamsport 21795 5608 Stonington Ave., Baltimore 21207 Parade Rest, RD 1, Port Deposit 21904 1306 Frederick Ave., Salisbury 21801 Route 2, Frederick 21701 530-0688 778-0826 223-9327 448-1967 378-3473 742-7221 874-2515 STATE TRUSTEES Allegany: *Mr. Dale B. Fuller Harford: *Col . , Leland Devore Mrs . C . Gordon Taylor Dr. Mildred Gebhard Anne Arundel: *Mr. Richard Heise Mr. John Wortman Mrs. John Ford Howard : *Dr. Robert Herndon Mrs. Patricia Flory Mr. John F- Healy Baltimore : *Dr. Roger Herriott Kent: *Dr . Daniel Z. Gibson Mrs . C . Lockhard Conley Mrs, . Edvard Mendinhall Miss Jane Daniels Mrs , . James E. Plymire Mrs. Raymond Geddes , Jr. Montgomery: *Mr . Paul W, Woodward Mr. C. Douglas Hackman Mr. Carl Carlson Mrs. Martin C. Larrabee Dr. J. William Oberman Mrs . Edward A. Metcalf Dr. Robert Hahn Dr. Benjamin F. Pos cover Patuxent : *Mrs . Ellen Gizzarelli Mr. John Poteet, Jr. Mr. El wood Fisher Mr. Chandler S. Robbins Mr. Danny Bystrak Mrs. Joshua Rove Talbot : *Mr . Ray Bryarr Caroline: *Mrs. Wilber Engle Mr. & Mrs. Robert Price Mr. Stephen Westre Washington : *Mr . Robert Keedy Frederick : *Mr. August Selckmann Mr. Edward Peters Mrs . Mary Mothervay Wicomico : *Mr. Charles Vaughn * Chapter President Mr. Henry Stone Active Membership (adults) Student Membership (full-time students) Junior Membership (under 18 years) Family Membership (Mr. & Mrs.) Sustaining Membership Life Membership Out-of-State Membership $ 3.00 plus local chapter dues 2.00 plus local chapter dues 1.00 plus local chapter dues 4.00 plus local chapter dues 6.00 plus local chapter dues 100.00 (payable in 4 annual installments ) 3.00 ( Maryland Birdlife only) Cover: Swallow-tailed Kite, LaVale, Maryland, August 24, 1974 Photo by Dr. Richard Johnson MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Volume 30 December 197*+ Number 1+ EASTERN KINGBIRD STRIKES POND SURFACE Jan G. Reese I watched an Eastern Kingbird ( Tyrannus tyrannus) strike the surface of a freshwater pond three consecutive times on July 26, 197*+ at Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland. The kingbird emerged from a thicket about 25 meters from the pond, temporarily landed on a standing dead snag along the pond's periphery, swooped from the limb to the center of the pond, struck the' pond surface in a spray of water, then rose and flew directly to the thicket. The bird was out of sight in the thicket less than a minute, then returned to the snag and repeated the behavior. After the third dive to the pond surface the kingbird returned to the snag instead of the thicket, sat briefly, then disappeared into the thicket. The bird appeared to be pursuing something in the pond and used the characteristic fluttering flight in a determined swoop. The position of the bird upon impact was not clear because the climax speed and water spray made observation difficult. The bird seemed to hit the pond sur- face with the upper 'breast . It rose instantly after impact and flew away with a more serious type of flight. The circular pond is approximately 35 meters in diameter and over three meters deep in the center. The pond is fed by a natural under- ground spring and cattails ( Typha sp. ) predominate on the banks. Half the pond is bordered by a concrete mixing plant, one quarter by U. S. Route 1+0, and the remainder by an overgrown area progressing from grasses at the pond to small trees a short distance away. Several species of adult damselflies and dragonflies abound in the vegetation surrounding the pond. I found hundreds of whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae), toad bugs (Gelastocoridae) , narrow-winged damselfly nymphs ( Coenagrionidae) and common skimmer nymphs (Libellulidae ) swimming in the pond. I tried searching the thicket for a kingbird nest, but poison ivy prevented a satisfactory investigation. This incident suggests the kingbird was removing aquatic insects from the surface of the pond to help feed young, perhaps in a nearby nest . Box 298, St. Michaels 128 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30. No. k ICELAND GULLS, FORSTER'S TERN NESTS, AND BREEDING HERONS IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, SUMMER 1974 Henry T. Armistead ICELAND GULLS On July 15, 197*+, two immature Iceland Gulls ( Lams glauaoides) were observed at leisure from approximately 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. on the southern tip of Barren Island. (For lengthier descriptions of this and other areas mentioned here see Mary Zand Bird-life 28:100-103, 1972; and 30:9-27, 197*+.) They were seen in company with 55 Great Black-backed Gulls and 200 Herring Gulls. The two birds were seen in flight as well as at rest on the beach and in the water. The plumage was the cream-colored, all whitish appearance typical of second "winter" birds. However, considerable light brown on the wings as well as the fact that both were weak fliers might indicate that they had not completely finished the molt from first winter plumage, at least with regard to the wing feathers. Far in the distance and to the unaided eye, these Icelands seemed so white that I thought they might be Snowy Egrets when I first saw them on the shore. Noticeably smaller than Herring Gulls, they seemed- reluctant to leave this sand bar, so favored by resting gulls. They were easily approached to within less than one hundred feet, at which point they took flight to join the other gulls that had already left, flying out one hundred yards or so and then set- tling onto the Bay. The writer has previously seen Iceland Gulls several times at Ocean City, Md. , and in Pennsylvania, and the very similar but larger Glaucous Gull in Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. There have been two previous listings of Iceland Gulls in Dorchester County, a Dec. 22, 1965 record by Karl Stecher ( Maryland Birdlife 22:9, 1966) and a February 1973 report up the Little Choptank River at Fishing Creek ( Naturalist Notes , April 1973, p. 3 [Audubon Naturalist Society of the Table 1. Recent Summer Iceland Gull Reports for the Mid-Atlantic Area No. Plumage Locality Date Observers 1 2nd yr. Cape May Pt . , . N . J . 6/13/5*+ K. C. Parkes, et al. 1 ? Gibson Island, Md. 6/L-6/56 Mrs. W. L. Henderson Mrs. G. Tappan 1 2nd yr. Little Creek Ref., Del. 6 /L /62 F. H. Lesser 2 Adults Ingram Bay, Va. 6 / 9/62 F. R. Scott 1 2nd yr. Cape Henlopen, Del. 7/18/61+- mid-Aug. H. M. Johnson F. G. Scheider 1 2nd yr. Cape Henlopen, Del. 8/8,22/70 C. W. Carlson 1 ? Absecon Bay, N. J. 6/k/n J. C. Miller 2 2nd yr. Barren Island, Md. 7/15/7 1 * H. T. Armistead December 197 1 * MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 129 Central Atlantic States]). In spite of inquiries, no details of the latter observation have been obtained, not even the observer's name or date. In the absence of substantiation of the 1973 citation, the present observation may be considered the second county sight record. Summer records of Iceland Gulls in the mid- Atlantic area are unusual but not unprecedented as the seven previous sightings in Table 1 show. Of these sightings four were of second-year birds, one was of adults, and the other two were unspecified. These records may be found in the appro- priate seasonal issues of Audubon Field Notes or American Birds. TERNS On July lU, 197^, a small colony of Common Terns ( Sterna hirundo) was discovered on an island in Great Cove, several hundred yards offshore from the east side of Bloodsworth Island. I had investigated this island in 1972 and 1973 but found no terns. It is about two hundred feet long with a duck blind at each end. Otherwise it is featureless, for the only vegetation is marsh grass. Sixteen active Common Tern nests were placed with typical precariousness at the line of natural sea rack on top of the seaweed windrows. Only two had young birds. No Forster's Terns (5. forsteri) were seen here, but adjacent to the seaweed windrows, landward from them, were five empty platform nests, a clear indication of these birds' presence here earlier in the year. The nests were com- posed of marsh grass. These nests were several inches thick, and seemed identical in their appearance, composition, and positioning to the ones I had seen at the 1973 mixed Forster ' s /Common Tern colony in the Manokin River. At this latter location the Forster's nests were also platform- like, marsh grass nests placed "inland" or within the ring of seaweed drift. By contrast the Common Tern nests were all closer to the water and on this seaweed, being not much more than hollows made by the terns. No remains of eggs or young Forster's Terns were found. In view of the several very distinctive differences between the nests of the two spe- cies as well as the unique appearance of the nests of Forster's Tern (cf. "Life histories of North American gulls and terns" by Arthur Cleveland Bent, N. Y., Dover Pubis., 1921, 1963, pp. 230ff . , 239ff • , and plates ^9-5*0, it seems reasonable to accept this as a valid record of attempted breeding by this species. This is the first evidence of Forster's Terns breeding in Dorchester County. Although only eight miles from the Manokin River colony and only a mile or so farther north, because of the westward swing of the Bay here, this site is actually farther "up" the Chesapeake and seems to represent the known extreme breeding limit here for Forster's Tern. HERONS Adam Island. The evening of July 13, 197^, afforded a good oppor- tunity to count herons. After a sustaining supper of beef stew at the campsite near the Naval Tower on uninhabited Adam Island I settled back in an aluminum folding chair to watch the evening flight. Herons could be seen returning to their roosts, apparently on Holland Island, just to the south. Judging from the direction of their approach, from the north, they were coming from the extensive marshlands of southern 130 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 30, No. 4 Dorchester County: the Hooper's Island, Golden Hill, Bishop's Head, Blackwater, and Elliott Island areas. These evening flights, which are strictly one way, resulted in several record counts for the county (underscored): Little Blue Heron, 115., Snowy Egret, 210, Louisiana Heron, 63, Black-crowned Night Heron, 55, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 35,, and Glossy Ibis, 110 . However, most of the night herons were heading north or "out" whereas the other more diurnal species were going "back" to roost. Adam Island is ideally situated just between but slightly west of the line of flight between the feeding and roosting areas. With the setting sun directly behind the observer the lines of low-flying herons beating purposefully south to their colony made a memorable spectacle. Only a few scattered pairs nest on Adam Island. Holland Island. As one faces strung-out Holland Island from the east one sees, excluding the trees adjacent to the single white frane house in the center, six clumps of trees, three on the north end and three on the south end. Herons nest both in the two northernmost clumps and the two southernmost ones . In 1972 and 1973 only the northern ones were visited. On July l4, 1974, the southern clumps were visited for the first time, and they thronged with all ten of Maryland's regularly breeding colonial herons (see Table 2). Because of the good number of nests found here, the estimate for the total number of Holland Island breeding birds was increased from 200 ( 1973 ) to 300, even though the numbers of birds in the north trees seemed to have declined since 1973. The contents of 59 nests of nine species of herons were recorded (all species but Green Heron). Three hundred nests may be considerably lower Table 2. 1974 Dorchester County Heronries (pairs) plus Osprey Nests TOTAL Barren Blood sworth Adam Holland 1973 Great Blue Heron l86/46 a 35/27 120/8 6/1 25/10 268 Green Heron 47/4 12/4 20/0 5/0 10/0 35 ■ Little Blue Heron 200/19 l4o/l4 - - 60/5 145 Cattle Egret 395/37 360/33 - - 35/4 449 Common Egret 88/30 33/18 25/3 - 30/9 122 Snowy Egret 160/16 120/9 ?b - 40/7 175 Louisiana Heron 20/7 10/5 - - 10/2 6 Black-cr. Night Heron 30/11 10/3 5/2 - 15/6 51 Yellow-cr. Night Heron 27/12 - 3/0 4/o 20/12 29 Glossv Ibis 185/16 130/12 - - 55/4 190 TOTAL, 197*+ 1338/198 850/125 173/13 15/1 300/59 TOTAL, 1973 1470 1013 238 19 200 1470 Osprey 32 3 C 20 4 5 a) Right hand figures indicate the number of nests for which contents were recorded. b) Previous nesting site unvisited in 197*+. c) Includes only pairs near southern tip. December 197*+ MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 131 than the actual number present. With nothing but uninhabited islands to the east, the wide Bay to the west, and the nearest occupied house some seven miles distant, the owners of the house on mile-long Holland Island are to be envied their beautiful natural surroundings. The throngs of water birds, maze of deer trails, and large deciduous trees with their LaocoOn like, half-exposed roots give this place an un forgettable atmos- phere. After photographing some old gravestones (all with the surname Parks) I reluctantly left this intriguing island, which formerly sus- tained a considerable community. No doubt there were also heronries here long before their discovery a few years ago. One can only conjec- ture about most of Holland Island’s human and ornithological history. Bloodsworth Island. History, after a fashion, is still in the mak- ing at Bloodsworth Island. On July 13, 197*+, half a dozen U. S. Navy fighter bombers fired rockets for the better part of the day into the marshy "prohibited area" as well as at the large, scuttled ship on the southwest corner of the island at Northeast Cove. The next day I -ap- proached this target ship to within about half a mile, at which point a keen watch for aircraft and warships is advisable. High up in the bow of this shellpocked wreck was a large Osprey nest with two birds in it. On the western side of the island, where white cars have been placed, apparently cabled together on top of each other to mark the impact area for pilots, several active Osprey nests were on top of these absurd, displaced cars. Bloodsworth Island's nesting Great Blue Herons have de- creased markedly from 180 pairs (1972 and 1973) to only 120 pairs in 197 1 *. The dead loblolly pines in which most of these birds have nested recently have deteriorated so that many of them are Just naked boles with none of the supporting branches necessary to hold the huge nests. After another season of winter storms with gale force winds at this ex- posed site it is almost certain that the number of nests in 1975 will be even fewer. Barren Island. The decline of the Barren Island heronries from 1013 (1973) to some 850 pairs also seems attributable to the loss of trees, this time because of erosion. All three of the colonies here had sustained considerable wash in the interval of a year since they had first been visited. Many of the big pines in which Great Blue Herons, Common Egrets, and night herons nest either were dead or toppled by the waves. The receding shoreline also took its toll of the smaller trees in which the other species nest. As an apparent adjustment, many of the smaller herons nested for the first time in the dense Baecharis halinri folia and Iva frutescens bushes on the south sides of the tree clumps of the north and middle colonies. A few more years of erosion and these herons will have to relocate. In spite of the lateness of the visit (July 15, 197*0 the contents of 125 nests of 9 species were recorded. The same species were present as in the previous year in about the same proportion except for a decline in Black-crowned Night Herons . The nest totals in Table 2 for these four Dorchester County heron- ries are for the most part rough estimates. The Barren Island nests, which had proven so easy to count in 1973, were more difficult to census 132 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30' No. h in 19lh because of the aforementioned shift of many birds to nest sites in dense bushes. On Holland Island, where herons nest in at least four separate areas, dense vegetation also makes a complete census difficult. However, there does seem to be somewhat of a decline in total breeding pairs for this whole area apparently as a result of shoreline erosion and decay of dead nest trees. But the increase shown for Little Blue Herons and Louisiana Herons since 1972 and 1973 seems clear in spite of these censusing difficulties. 39 Benezet Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19118 * NESTING SUCCESS OF. CHESAPEAKE BAY OSPREYS IN 1974 Jan G. Reese Chesapeake Bay Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus) studies I began in 1963 received financial assistance from the MOS in 197*+. There are three areas of study; the primary area is a delimited segment of tidewater Talbot County where all active nests are intensively studied throughout the reproductive season. Secondary areas of similar size are surveyed twice annually in both Eastern Bay and southern Choptank River; since these "control" nests were not frequently disturbed, their productivity was used for comparison with the Talbot County study area. For a de- scription of these areas, methods of study and results obtained see: Reese, J. G. Reproduction in a Chesapeake Bay Osprey population. Auk 87 ( ^ ): 7*+7-759 , 1970; Osprey nesting success along the Choptank River, Maryland, Chesapeake Sci. 13( 3) : 233-235, 1972; Osprey nest success in Eastern Bay, Maryland, Chesapeake Sci. l6(l):56-6l, 1975- Comprehensive annual reports for individual study areas are available from the author. The purpose of this note is to present a brief summary of nest success for the three areas in 197*+. In the Talbot County study area, I located ll+l active nests in 197*+; 115 of these were accessible for study (contents could be seen). Of 329 eggs laid in accessible nests, 50 percent hatched and ^3 percent resulted in fledglings. The average brood size for 88 successful nests (nests in which at least one young was fledged) was 1.86. I found l6U young in lUo active nests with known outcome, for a productivity ratio of 1.17 fledglings per active nest. The percentage of nests successful, egg hatchibility , brood size, and population productivity all decreased from 1973 values, but were still better than in most years during the past decade. Osprey nest success in Eastern Bay has been disastrous the past eight years and the future of this population is in serious jeopardy. Population productivity averaged only 0.6l fledgling per active nest during the period 1966-73 and there was a 26 percent decline in active nests since 1969 . Success of all phases of Osprey nesting in Eastern Bay in 197*+ far exceeded any previous year of study and hopefully indi- cates a reversal of the downward trend. In the 197*+ Eastern Bay study. December 197*+ MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 133 I located 32 active nests and 51 young. The average brood size in 2k successful nests was 2.1, and the productivity ratio was 1.59 fledglings per active nest . In the Choptank River area, I located 3^ active nests and i+0 young. The average brood size in 2k successful nests was 1.7, and the produc- tivity ratio was l.l8 fledglings per active nest. Although Choptank River Osprey productivity decreased from the high of 1.^3 in 1973, it was still above that observed from 1968 to 72. Ospreys utilized 19 of 22 permanent offshore nest structures con- structed with MOS financing in 1972-73. A total of 20 young fledged in 12 nests for an average brood size of 1.7; productivity was 1.05 fledg- lings per utilized structure. This production rate was the poorest found since the structures were made available. ^ Box 298, St. Michaels LESSER NIGHTHAWK BELIEVED SIGHTED IN MARYLAND IN DECEMBER John H. Fates and Elizabeth H. Fates The morning of December 3, 197^ at Plum Point, Calvert County, Mary- land was partly cloudy and the afternoon became clear with a breeze and a high temperature of about 50° F. In the morning we had fed the birds at the rear of our bayside home as usual. Mrs. Fales reported later that she had seen a hawk-like bird flying around the yard, and that it was not a Sparrow Hawk, a species with which she is familiar. In the afternoon at about k p.m. I was on a ladder against the rear of the house when a Hairy Woodpecker came into the yard calling loudly. As I looked up from my work and turned cautiously to observe the area a nighthawk flew by and behind the house at only roof-top level. It was very surprising to see a nighthawk so late in the year. I got down to the ground and ran around to the opposite side Just as the bird came by again flying slowly and still at a low altitude, thus allowing excellent observation in the bright sunlight. This bird was unquestionably a night- hawk, even though the slow flight at low height seemed unusual. It was mottled brown in color, and the white bands on the wings were plainly visible. It looked a bit bulkier than our Common Nighthawk ( Chordeiles minor), and the wings appeared to be shorter. The bird flew slowly out of sight. I contacted Chandler Robbins of the Fish and Wildlife Service. He pointed out that Common Nighthawks should be in their South American win- tering area by this date, and he asked whether I had considered the pos- sibility it might be a Lesser Nighthawk ( C . acutipennis ) , a southwestern species that is a very late migrant and sometimes remains in the south- western states through the winter. This bird could have been brought northeast by the severe wind storm that devastated certain areas of the country and hit the Middle Atlantic States two days prior on December 1. MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30, No. 4 13U Although the position of the white band on the wing was not specifi- cally noted at the time of observation, I believe that it was the pres- ence of the band nearer the wingtip (a good field mark of the Lesser Nighthawk) that created the impression of a short-winged bird. The following from A. C. Bent, 19^0 (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 176) helps support the probability that the Lesser Nighthawk was the species we observed. As to the flight, "it appears leisurely" and it "flies at a much lower altitude than is the usual habit of swallows and swifts." "While hunting it never ascends to any great height..." "its flight is equally as graceful as that of the other Nighthawks, but it rarely soars as high.... and generally skims just over the tops of the bushes or close to the surface of the water." "The most conspicuous character by which the Texas [Lesser] Nighthawk can be distinguished from the nighthawks of the minor group is the position of the white band {buffy in the female) in the wing; in minor this is about midway between the bend of the wing and its tip; in aoutipennis it is nearer the tip than the bend. The Texas Nighthawk is also somewhat smaller, rather browner, and has a somewhat shorter and broader wing." One might wonder what a nighthawk could find to eat in Maryland in December, but it was warm enough along the Chesapeake Bay shore so that many flying insects were available, at least on the warmer days. Seven days after we saw the nighthawk we noticed that about 300 small flying insects had become stuck in' some of the fresh paint on our house. The latest Maryland date for a Common Nighthawk was obtained on October l6, i960 at this same locality (John and David Fales). Bent (19^0) gives no winter records and only three November records for the United States, the latest being November 9 at Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Lowery, in the third edition (197*0 of Louisiana Birds, has recorded up to three Common Nighthawks wintering in Lousiiana in three recent winters — the first such occurrence in the United States. He also reported more than fifteen Louisiana occurrences of the Lesser Nighthawk, including five specimens collected; fall dates in Louisiana range from September 8 to January 9» including observations on November 28 and December l8. From the short-winged appearance, the unusually low flight, the very late date, and the occurrence of a severe fast-moving storm from the southwest prior to our observation, the writers believe that the bird was a Lesser Nighthawk, which until now has not been known east of the Appa- lachians. Even though this must be considered a hypothetical occurrence, we believe this sighting should be placed on record so that other ob- servers will be alerted to pay special attention to any out-of-season nighthawk found in the East. Ldge Road, Neeld Estate, Huntingtown December 1974 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 135 AUDUBON WORKSHOP IN MAINE, AUGUST 1974 Tom Robbins "This course emphasized ecological principals, teaching and leader- ship techniques. It was designed to equip the student to plan and conduct interpretive programs furthering environmental awareness and the conser- vation of natural resources." This quote is from the certificate issued to us the night before we left camp. It is hard to condense two weeks into a small space, but I would like to share some of the experiences. For two weeks we were kept informed of the Puffin Project. This was the re-establishment of the Common Puffin ( Fratercula arotioa) to its former breeding habitat in Muscongus Bay, Maine. During my stay at camp we were able to visit Eastern Egg Rock Island where the Puffin chicks had been placed. By August 24 , all 54 puffins had successfully fledged. One evening George Porter, author of The World of the Frog and the Toad and an Audubon Nature Bulletin on Frogs and Toads, gave a slide and tape program on frogs and toads. During the week of August 11, we saw the meteor shower through ex- ceptionally clear skies. Jupiter was so bright that you could see its reflection on the water. In Muscongus Bay there were many colorful floats that indicate the location and ownership of the lobster pots. It takes a lobster 5 to 8 years to attain legal harvesting size (3 3/16 inches). The lobsters are named by the lobstermen as: "a keeper" (3 3/l6 in.), "short" (less than 3 3 / 16 ), "horse lobster" (over 5 inches), "chicken lobster" (small), and "in bearing" (carrying eggs). For research on migration of the lob- ster they put a metal pin in the muscle (because the shell is shed fre- quently). We all enjoyed a lobster feast on our last night there. One Sunday, IT of us went by boat to Monhegan Island. This was an hour's ride in the ocean so several people became a little uncomfortable. It was a unique experience, though, to visit this beautiful island. A daily record of the birds seen by campers and staff has been kept since 1935* In the 1974 season the camp recorded 123 species. I added 1 6 birds to my life list, including Leach's Petrel, Common Puffin, Black Guillemot (they pronounce it "ghee-mo"), and Common Eider. I want to thank MOS for giving me this opportunity. The instruc- tion established a base for me and set me off in the right direction to learn natural history. I am glad to report that the workshop has helped me in my teaching. I have put into practice some of the experiences in my fifth grade teaching here in Denton. I plan to use my knowledge in 4H and scout work also. Professionally I earned three hours of college credit. It was a very worthwhile experience that I will never forget. Denton 136 MARYLAND BIRD LIFE Vol . 30 i No. k THE PRESIDENT'S PAGE The coming of December brings to mind Christmas; Christmas means a time of good ■will — the time of the year when our demonstration of joy reaches a peak. Christmas also means the time of our annual winter bird count. To our members who make the Christmas Count we owe a vote of thanks for a service well done each year. The count gives us valuable information by enabling comparison of our bird population of the year with that of another year and by providing interesting information on new or rare sightings. Many thanks to all of you who perform on this count. Mentioning our Christmas Bird Count reminds me that our feathered friends are no exception to those who are victims of inflation. I was recently talking to an ardent birder who has fed the birds for years. He said, "I am rationing the sunflower seed this year." In 1972, I pur- chased sunflower seed for $l4 per hundred pounds; in 1973, the price was $20; in 197 1 *, it went to $30. If anyone knows of an economical substi- tute for sunflower seed, please drop me a line; I will pass the informa- tion along. Recently I tried sharing with the birds some of the edible soybeans that I grow in my garden. I crushed them, but the birds have shown no interest in them. Perhaps I didn't crush them fine enough. Searching for a substitute for expensive sunflower seed leads me to suggest that communication between members of MOS should be increased. Previously, I have suggested that members write to me if they have ideas on certain subjects. Now, it occurs to me that maybe we should occasion- ally devote space in Birdlife to exchanging ideas — to passing on to all members practices that some member has found to be a valuable asset in his birding activities. I was surprised to see my name with the announcement of the passing of Bert Haines. Although I put the information together and sent it for publication, credit for obtaining the facts should have gone to Mrs. Mary Motherway and Mr. August Selckmann of the Frederick Chapter. I had not anticipated anybody's name being given as the source of the information. On the day after Hallowe'en, when I called at the home of our Execu- tive Secretary, Mrs. Perryclear, I learned that they had had an unusual visitor on Hallowe'en at about 5 p.m. A buck deer bounded through the kitchen window, went through the living room, and, upon trying to go through the thermopane there but being unable to break it, became frantic. Mr. Perryclear, who was upstairs, came down to see what was the cause of the commotion. Finding the deer in the living room, he opened the front door which is adjacent to the window through which the deer entered; the deer turned and exited through the open door. When Mrs. Perryclear re- turned home later in the evening, she was surprised to find the living room spattered with blood and one of her antique tables broken. Barclay E . Tucker December 1974 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 137 FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE SWALLOW-TAILED KITE IN WESTERN MARYLAND Kendrick Y. Hodgdon A Swallow- tailed Kite ( Elanoides forfiaatus) was found at LaVale, Allegany County, on August 17, 1974 by Billy Malec and the writer. Many other interested birders were able to observe the bird in flight or perched during the next few weeks. The last sighting was by John Wil- letts on September 19. The cover photograph was taken by Dr. Richard Johnson from the LaVale skating rink on August 24, and the photo re- produced below was made from a color transparency taken by James Paulus from the north end of Dan's Mountain overlooking the new freeway at the west end of LaVale on September 2. Photo by James Paulus The first three Maryland records of the Swallow-tailed Kite were of birds shot in July or August in 1879, 1889, and 1895, in Howard, Balti- more, and Montgomery Counties (Stewart and Robbins, Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia, 1958). The only subsequent observations for this State were one seen in the Pocomoke Swamp near Whaleysville on an MOS Convention field trip. May 10, 1969* by Merrill Cottrell and others (Robbins, Maryland Birdlife 25:97, 1969), and one seen from May 31 to June 11, 1972, at and near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge by Larry Dunkeson and others (Julian, Maryland Birdlife 28:104, 1972). 945 Weires Ave. , LaVale 138 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30, No. 4 FOURTH LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO CAREY RUN SANCTUARY FUND Mr. Stephen L. Allen Ms. Elizabeth R. T. Armi stead Mr. El ting Arnold Mr. John G. Baker Mr. John W. Barton Miss Barbara C. Bilsborough Mrs . Walter Bohanan Mr. & Mrs. D. H. Michael Bowen Mr. & Mrs. Donald M. Brown Mrs. L. B. Buterbaugh Mrs. W. M. Campbell' Mr. Philip F. Clapp Miss J. Helen Coggins Mr. Morris R. Collins Dr. & Mrs. C. Lockard Conley Mr. & Mrs. Edwin D. Crocker Mrs. Helen R. Davis Mr. D. Maurice David Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Downin Mr. Sam Droege Dr. Robert C. Duvall Mr. Bruce H. Dwyer Miss Elizabeth C. Earle Mr. & Mrs. S. Everett Edwards Mr. & Mrs. Wilber Engle Mr . Gene Evans District V, Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland In memory of Gertrude Finch Mr. & Mrs. Alfred J. Fletcher Miss Alice Friedel Mr. Glenn E. Funkhouser Dr. Mildred E. Gebhard Mr. & Mrs. Reign S. Hadsell Mr. Henry H. Hall Dr. Robert M. Herndon Mr. & Mrs. Charles C. Holt Miss Bertha Howard Howard County Chapter of MOS Ms. Mary Humphreys Mrs. Margaret A. Hyde Mr. & Mrs. Harry C. Jones Mr. Percy Jones Mr. & Mrs. Rodney B. Jones Junior Girl Scout Troop #236. Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Kingery Mr . K . P . Lapeyre Miss Dorothy W. Lawson Miss Ono L. Lescure Mr. E. M. Martin Mr. C. N. Mason Mrs . Edward Mendinhall - In memory of Roy Ruhnka Mrs. A. J. Mirkin Mr. & Mrs. Harry 0. Michel Ms. Elizabeth H. Monroe Montgomery Chapter MOS Cdm. & Mrs. E. R. Mumford Miss Joanne Neroda Mr. & Mrs. Harold B. Norwood Ms. Gladys Oakman Mrs. Harry Offutt Miss Helen Ostrander Mr. & Mrs. W. E. Pace Mr. Floyd L. Parks Patuxent Bird Club of MOS Mr. Dennis Perkins Mrs. C. B. Perryclear Mrs. James Plymire - In memory of Roy Ruhnka Dr. Benjamin F. Pos cover and Family Mr. Guy J. Riccio Mr. & Mrs. Chandler S. Robbins Mr. Thomas A. Robbins Mrs. Norwood K. Schaffer Miss Georgette Schenkel Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Schreiber Mrs. Harriet Sheetz Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Smoes Mrs. W. Glenn Speicher Miss Helen L. Steuart Mr. & Mrs. Carroll Stewart Mrs. Herbert Strack Talbot County Bird Club of MOS Dr. & Mrs. James B. Thomas Mrs. Palma T. Valdivia Mrs. George E. VanDyke Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Vaughn Lt. Cdr. Anthony W. White Wicomico Bird Club of MOS Mr. & Mrs. Laurence D. Wing Mrs. DeGroff Woodman Dr. Lawrence Zeleny TOTAL CONTRIBUTED TO DATE $20,701.00 December 197^ MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 139 JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, 1974 Chandler S. Bobbins An unusually dry July was followed by ample rainfall in the next two months, and by the end of the summer there was a lush crop of seeds and berries. Average temperatures were close to normal in July and August, and 1° to 2° below normal in September. A cool snap on Aug. 12 (following a cold front on the 10th) brought temperatures in the Uo's to much of the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland, but was a few days too early in the season to bring with it a flight of south-bound migrants. Subsequent cool fronts were mild as well as infrequent , and the migration tended to stay a few days behind schedule through September. The best cold fronts of the period were those of Sept. 3, lU , 21, 22, and 29. The earliest fall migration dates reported for the more common spe- cies are shown, by counties, in Table 1, with the counties arranged from northwest to southeast. Dates underscored in the table denote banding records. A zero (0) indicates that no report was received for the spe- cies in that county; a dash ( — ) means the species was recorded, but that no arrival date was obtained. The principal contributors to the table were: Garre tt County — Mrs. Fran Pope; Alleg any — James Paulus , John Willetts; Washi ngton — Daniel Boone Paul McKenzie, Mrs. Alice Mallonee; Frede rick — Dr. John W. Richards; Balti more City and County — Mrs. Peggy Bohanan, -C. Douglas Hackman, Mrs. Marion Glass, Mrs. Janet Ganter, Mrs. Gladys Cole: Howa rd — Mrs. Joanne Solem, Mrs Rosamond Munro; Montg omery — Peter Pyle, Phil Stoddard, Dr. Robert Pyle, Mrs. Margaret Donnald, Robert W. Warfield, Dr. Thomas Valega, Dr. Fred Evenden; Prince Georges — Leonard Teuber, Danny Bystrak, Chandler Robbins, Kathleen Klimkiewicz; Anne Arundel — Hal Wierenga, Mrs. Rena Bishop, Danny Bystrak, Mark Hoffman, Prof, and Mrs. David Howard; Char les — Leonard Teuber, Dr. George Wilmot, Olive Sorzano, Kathleen Klimkiewicz; St. Marys- Leonard Teuber, Dr. George Wilmot, Olive Sorzano; Calve rt — John H. Fales; Kent — Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mendinhall, Mrs. Margery Plymire, Floyd Parks, James Gruber, Arline Delario, Paul McKenzie, Margaret Klingman; Carol ine — Marvin Hewitt, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fletcher, Mrs. Ethel Engle, Mrs. Alicia Knotts; Talbo t — Jan Reese, Harry Armistead; Dorch ester — Harry Armistead; Some rset — Paul and Danny Bystrak, Mrs. Gladys Cole, Harry Armistead, Charles Vaughn; Worce ster — Charles Vaughn, Robert W. Warfield. Table 1. Earliest Fall Arrival Dates, 1974 Median Species 10-yr 197*4 Garr Alle Wash Fred Balt Howd Mont Pr.G Anne Chas St .M Calv Kent Caro Talb Pore Somr Wore Common Loon 10/ 8 11/17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8/26 0 10/17 0 10/30 9/29 9/20 0 Pied-billed Grebe — 9/28 11/13 9/16 0 0 9/29 0 9/16 10/ 1 9/23 0 — 10/ 5 0 9/28 Double-cr. Cormorant — 9/ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9/23 8/26 9/16 9/24 0 9/ 7 7/15 8/ 9 0 0 8/21 Common Egret — 8/ 3 0 0 0/12 0 0 0 7/15 10/ 1 7/27 0 10/17 7/28 9/19 7/26 Snowy Egret — — 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7/29 0 0 0 9/ 8 0 9/ 1 Little Blue Heron — — 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 7/22 0 iTfr 0 0 0 0 9/27 0 Canada Goose 9/26 9/22 — — 9/23 — 9/1*4 9/20 9/15 .9/23 9/22 — 9/24 10/11 9/15 9/15 9/28 Blue-winged Teal — 8/29 0 8/19 0 0 0 0 — 8/27 8/14 — 0 — 8/31 9/19 9/ 2 8/25 9/ 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk — 9/26 10/ 2 10/ 6 9/1*4 — 9/26 9/20 9/1*4 10/24. 9/15 10/ 1 — 9/ 6 9/28 Broad-winged Hawk 9/12 9/ *4 — — 91 2 — 9( 5 9/18 8/21 9/16 9/ ** ?/i7 0 9/ 1 9/ 1 0 9/15 0 0 0 Pigeon Hawk — 9/21 9/ 8 9/21 9/22 0 9/ 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10/17 0 0 0 0 Sparrow Hawk — 9/ 6 9/ 8 — 9/ 2 — 9/17 — 9/14 — 9/ 4 9/ 6 9/24 91 8 9/20 8/11 7/13 8/23 9/ 4 Semipalmated Plover — 8/ l 0 8/20 8/ *i 0 0 0 0 0 7/20 0 0 0 0 — 8/10 7/15 0 7/29 Common Snipe — — — 0 0 — — 0 — — 9/10 0 0 — — 0 9/ 2 9/28 Spotted Sandpiper 7/26 8/ 6 — — 8/ } 0 8/io 0 7/22 0 7/ 7 9/12 0 0 0 — 9/ 1 Solitary Sandpiper 8/ 5 8/114 0 7/30 8/ it 0 7/28 0 7/15 — 7/20 9/ 5 0 0 9/23 — 0 9/28 TTfr 9/ 7 Greater Yellovlegs 8/10 8/11 0 9/10 8/2*t 0 8/10 0 7/24 10/ 1 7/29 0 0 0 8/ 3 9/20 0 7/13 8/23 8/11 Lesser YellowlegB 8/12 B/10 9/10 8/19 8/ it 0 8/10 0 7/16 91 7 6/30 0 10/17 9/19 8/ l 0 7/13 8/23 7/27 Pectoral Sandpiper 8/10 8/ 1 0 9/ 7 8/ *t 0 7/28 0 0 9/ 7 7/29 0 0 0 8/ l 0 7/14 0 0 Least Sandpiper 8/30 6/ 5 0 8/20 8/ ? 0 0 0 0 — 7/13 0 9/24 0 0 — 7/31 7/13 8/25 Dunlin — 10/ 4 0 0 0 10/19 0 0 0 10/10 9/25 0 10/17 0 0 0 0 9/20 9/28 Short-billed Dcrwitcher — 7/18 0 9/ 7 8/21 0 0 0 0 0 7/18 0 0 0 0 0 0 7/13 0 7/ 5 Semipalmated Sandpiper — 8/ 1 0 8/20 8/11 0 8/10 0 0 0 7/13 0 0 0 8/ 1 7/31 7/13 8/25 7/ 7 Sanderling — — 0 9/ 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 7/20 0 0 0 0 0 0 9/29 0 7/30 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 91 T 9/Hi — 9/15 S/i? — 9/!2 7/27 2/ ? 9/15 Common Nighthawk 8/22 ' 8/28 9/ 3 — 8/25 — 8/25 0/23 8/16 — 8/27 8/29 0 — "S72T 9/ 2 0 T573o Yellow-shafted Flicker 9/18 9/18 9/ 8 10/12 9/15 — 9/15 — 9/20 9/22 9/20 — 9/24 9/ 5 ILL — 9/15 9/28 Red-headed Woodpecker — 9/16 9/12 — 9/18 — — 0 — 0 9/16 9/17 10/ 5 — 9/10 0 0 0 0 0 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 9/25 9/2*4 9/ 8 9/2U — — 9/16 10/ *4 10/ 5 9/25 9/24 10/ 3 9/24 10/23 9/23 9/15 0 10/ 5 Eastern Phoebe 9/2 6 9/28 9710 tf 7 9/30 p/16 10/13 9/24 10/ 8 10/ 4 9/22 9/28 10/ 6 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 9/ 1 9/ 1 9/1*4 9/15 9/23 0 8/28 0 8/20 8/27 8/26 0 9/2lt 0 8/20 0 0 0 0 Traill's Flycatcher — 9/ *4 — 0 0 0 9/10 0 9Ul 0 0 9/16 0 0 5720 0 9 ^ 5 0 8/24 0 Least Flycatcher 8/31 9/ 2 — 9/15 0 0 6/21 0 8/30 8/30 8/26 9/ 5 0 0 wn 0 2U. 9/28 8/25 0 Olive-sided Flycatcher — — 0 9/15 0 8/l8 0 0 fl/l8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eastern Wood Pewee — 9/10 9/25 — 9/1*4 — 9/ 5 — 9/21 9/14 9/ 4 9/ 5 9/24 — 9/ 2 — 2 LI I - 1 Jt" O 0/30 Bank Swallow Rough-winged Swallow Blue Jay* White-breasted Nuthatch 8/ 5 9/20 9/20 8/29 10/ 3 9/15 9/ 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 9/20 10/ 7 Brown Creeper 9/28 10/ 3 Winter Wren 10/ 2 10/ it Wood ThruBh — 9/10 Swainson'e Thrush 9/ 8 9/14 9/15 9/21 9/2*1 8/25 9 / 1*4 10/21 10/10 9/17 9/21 0 ' 9/20 7/ 1 8/2 6 9/23 9/16 10/27 0 9/24 0 10/13 10/13 9/ 5 0 0 10/ 5 10/17 8/ 5 8/ 5. 9/20 0 10/ 6 10/10 10/13 9/21 9/21 9/16 10/10 9/25 10/25 9/6 9/23 La) O MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Species 10-yr 1971* Garr Alle Wash Fred Balt Howd Gray-cheeked Thrush 9/15 9/28 0 10/ 6 0 0 o' 9/17 Veery 9/ 1* 9/ 4 — 0 9/ 2 0 2 LI — Golden-crowned Kinglet 10/ 6 10/ 5 10/ 5 10/ *6 — — 10/ 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9/21* 9/27 10/ 5 10/ 6 — 9/28 9/17 9/25 Cedar Waxwing 91 2 9/ 4 9/ 9 — 8/12 — — 9/ 3 Loggerhead Shrike — — 0 0 0 0 0 0 White-eyed Vireo — 9/ 6 — 0 0 0 0 0 Solitary Vireo 10/ 1 10/ 1 — 10/ 6. 9/23 0 9/18 9/25 Red-eyed Vireo — 9/ 7 97 8 9/15 9/ 2 — 2LA 9/24 Philadelphia Vireo — 9/16 0 9/17 9/21* 0 m 0 Black-and-white Warbler 8/25 "5/30 “ 9/ 9 8/21 “5715" a /25 9/ 4 Blue-winged Warbler — 8/27 0 0 8/23 — 8/28 — Tennessee Warbler 9/10 9/12 9/ 8 9/15 9/ 2 0 9/12 0 Nashville Warbler 9/12 9/16 10/ 9 10/12 9/ 1 9/21 2 M 9/17 Parula Warbler 9/16 9/18 — — 0 9/25 91 5 — Yellow Warbler 9/ 2 9/ 2 8/ 3 — Magnolia Warbler 91 1* 91 5 9/25 8/31 8/25 9/ 1 8/21 9/13 Cape May Warbler 9/1** 9/15 9/ 8 9/15 9/15 9/21 91 9 0 Black- thr. Blue Warbler 9/ 7 9/1** 91 8 9/22 9/H* 0 2Z_1 91 5 Myrtle Warbler 9/30 9/21* -- 10/12 9/15 — 10/10 — Black-thr. Green Warbler 9/12 9/15 10/ u 9/15 9/14 9/21 9/16 91 5 Blackburnian Warbler 9/ 5 9/ 5 — 9/15 8/25 0 9/ 5 9/23 Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/ 1* 9/ 5 — 9/15 8/21* 9/10 8/28 9/20 Bay-breasted Warbler 9/16 9/14 9/13 9/15 9/14 0 8/29 9/16 Blackpoll Warbler 9/15 9/19 0 9/22 9/14 0 9/19 10/15 Prairie Warbler — — 0 — ""5/12 — — — Palm Warbler 9/22 10/ 8 10/ 3 10/18 10/13 0 0 10/15 Ovenbird 8/31 9/ 5 9/ 8 9/15 8/25 9/14 8/19 9/17 Northern Waterthrush 9/ 1 9/ 2 — 0 0 0 9/15 0 Connecticut Warbler 9/12 9/15 10/ 2 9/15 0 0 9/15 0 Mourning Warbler — — — 0 0 0 91 4 0 Hooded Warbler -- 9/10 0 — 0 0 9/10 91 8 Wilson's Warbler 9/ 8 9/15 9/23 9/15 0 0 §M 0 Canada Warbler 8/23 8/23 — 8/25 0/21 0 5721 0 American Redstart 8/30 8/25 — — 8/21 9/10 8/19 9/ 5 Bobolink 8/29 8/29 — 0 0 0 0 0 Baltimore Oriole 8/28 8/25 — — 8/24 — 8/25 — Scarlet Tanager — 9/ 8 91 8 — 8/23 — 9/ 9 9/ 7 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9/12 9/15 9/ 8 9/ 1 9/ 2 0 9/18 9/20 Indigo Bunting — 9/12 9/ 8 9/15 9/15 — fm — Rufous-sided Towhee — 9/25 — 10/ 6 _ 9"/i4 ' — 9/24 — Savannah Sparrow 9/30 9/28 — 91 1 Slate-colored Junco 10/ 6 10/ 9 10/ 9 10/ 6 10/19 __ 9/27 10/ 4 White-throated Sparrow 9/25 10/ 1* 10 / 1 9/25 10/19 — 9/25 10/ 5 Lincoln's Sparrow — 9/30 10T2 9/25 0 0 9/25 0 Swamp Sparrow 10/ 1 10/ 6 10/ 2 9/25 10/19 — 10/15 Song Sparrow — 10/ 2 m. 9/22 — — K? ro K- — 9/11* 2/30 8/30 9/15 LO/ 8 10/ 3 9727 9/26 9/26 9/25 0 9/21 10/13 9/16 9/15 0 0 10/ 5 10/ 5 9/21* 0 10/ 3 10/ 6 10/ 7 8/25 10 / 1 — lO ” 10/ 3 10/10 lS 10/ 1* 9/22 8/31 10 / 1 * 9/20 8/ 9 0 0 0 9/ 2 9/16 0 0 10/ 5 9/26 0 10 / 6 — 9/ 2 - 0 6/21* TOT 9/pr 6/23 ~ 9/21 ' 8/18 0 9/1 1 * 9/16 9/15 9/23 9/ 4 9/23 TJW 0 0 0 9/12 8/2(5 10/13 8/11 9/16 91 6 — 9/15 9/10 0 0 0 10/ 1 0 10/ 6 91 4 — ■ 9/24 — 8/19- - 2 LA 0 91 5 0 0 0 0 9/15 0 10 / 6 0 0 0 0 8/17 5/29 9/12 9/ 4 9/ U T72T 8/25 9/10 9/ 2 9/2l* 9/ 5 8/26 9/16 10/ 3 9/ 5 97IT 9/16 9/16 9/16 9/16 0 0 0 9/2U 0 0 0 9/23 6/30 9/ 8 9/15 9/T 97T 9/10 9/21 9/25 0 9/21* 0 9/2 1 * 9/21* 0 0 0 0 10/ 8 0 0 9/28 10/ 5 0 9/19 0 0 0 9/28 9/28 9/ 7 9/12 S/25 9/18 8/25 2Zii 9/1 9/18 9/19 9/26 9/15 9/ 5 9/ 5 9/16 0 9715 “ 10/13 9/17 9/ 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 / 4 9/21* 9/15 9/ 5 0 0 0 0 9/16 9/15 0 0 0 0 9/12 0 0 9/ 6 0 0 0 9/19 0 0 0 0 8/11 8/25 0 0 9/1 8/22 “5731 91 5 0 9/ B — 8/31 91 5 — 9/21 9/ 5 — 9/15 9/15 0 9/15 9/l6 9/15 9/ 5 - 8/29 8/ii* 9/26 9/ 2 0 0 / 21 * 0 8/27 0 10/8 9/11 9/30 10/ 3 10/11 10/ 3 10 / 1 * 0 9724 10/13 10/17 0 9721 10/ 8 10/10 9/22 0 9 m 10/ 8 10/ 8 10/18 9/21 10/11 9/18 0 10/13 9/30 10/17 10/17 10/ 8 10/ 8 10/ 8 9/22 9/22 10/13 10/ l* 1 *L5 ia 10, 9/28 9/28 — 0 10 / 5 — 0 10/12 — 0 0 0 To7”3 ~ 0 December 197** MABYLMD BIRDLIFE MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30, No. 4 1U2 Loons , Grebes , Cormorants . A few Common Loons summer regularly in Chesapeake Bay or along the Maryland coast . Whether these are all crip- ples or whether some are completely healthy subadult birds that do not attempt to reach their breeding range is not known. Jan Reese noted 1 summering individual at Wye Island on July 6 and 2 in the Choptank River on July 31. A single high-flying Common Loon that went past Sandy Point State Park on Aug . 2 6 , on the other hand, is taken to be a record-setting bona fide fall migrant from the north because of the combination of cir- cumstances surrounding the observation (Hal Wierenga): it appeared on the day after a cold frontal passage, with unseasonably cold temperatures to the north of us, and was on a high direct flight and over an area in which none had been seen during the summer. The earliest arrival date previously recorded was Sept. 4. Harry Armistead had a very high one-day count of 57 Pied-billed Grebes at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area in western Somerset County on Sept. 28. Small numbers of non-breeding Double-crested Cormorants summered as usual in lower Chesapeake Bay (Dorchester and Somerset Counties, Armistead), but a flock of 40 at Tanyard on the Choptank River on July 15 was most unusual for inland Caroline County (Mrs. Ethel Engle). Herons . Dr. John Weske reported a small colony of nesting Snowy Egrets and Louisiana Herons at Robins Marsh in Chincoteague Bay off Snow Hill. The usual large colonies of Snowy, Common and Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night, Little Blue and Louisiana Herons and Glossy Ibis were present again this year on the islands off the south tip of South Point at the north end of Chincoteague Bay (Weske). Hervey Brackbill re- ported a Yellow-crowned Night Heron summering again in the Woodlawn sec- tion of Baltimore, and the Lake Roland bird was seen by many throughout the period. A Least Bittern seen at Sandy Point State Park on July 1 and July 17 indicates probable breeding there (Hal Wierenga); another was flushed out of a Junaus patch in salt marsh on Adam Island in the middle of the Chesapeake on July 13 (Armistead) for the first summer record on the outer islands. Post-breeding wandering of herons was very ordinary this season. Two Cattle Egrets on Sept. 19 at Greensboro were late for Caroline County (Alma Ruf), although they regularly occur throughout the period in the Lower Eastern Shore counties. They reached a non-breeding high of 47 at Blackwater Refuge on Sept. 2 (Armistead). Swans and Geese . Mute Swans have spread north to Georgetown on the Sassafras River in Kent County, where Jan Reese saw 3 on July 25. A pair on the upper Miles River west of Easton was seen with a brood of 6 young on Aug. 11 (Armistead). The highest count at Ocean City was a flock of 12 on July 2 (Robert Warfield). A few Whistling Swans summered again along the east shore of the Chesapeake in Talbot County (Reese). The cold front that passed rapidly through Maryland on Sept. l4 trig- gered the first flight of Canada Geese. The influx was noted first at Towson at 10:45 p.m. on the l4th (Mrs. Gladys Cole), and by the next day flocks were seen in three other counties. On Sept. 28 an individual of the small Hutchins race was seen together with 2,000 Canada Geese, an adult Snow Goose and 5 adult Blue Geese at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County (Armistead). December 1974 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 143 Ducks . Poplar Island in Chesapeake Bay seemed to me the major sum- mering area for stray ducks that failed to migrate north to their breeding grounds. Oldsquaws were seen there repeatedly during July, with a peak count of 9 on July 13 (Reese). At Fenwick Island, Morgan and Barbara Jones watched a summering Red-breasted Merganser swim across the Maryland- Delaware State Line on July 9* A Ruddy Duck appeared at the Glass Plant pond at Oldtown on the extraordinarily early date of July 29 and was carefully studied by Jim Paulus , who described it in detail; it had not summered there. The next report was of a male at Bellevue in Talbot County on Aug. 11 ( Armistead) . The earliest previous report of fall ar- rival was not until Aug. 27. By Sept. 28 large numbers of dabbling ducks were at favored concentration spots on the lower Eastern Shore; 1,100 Pintails and 700 Green-winged Teal at Blackwater Refuge and 2,000 American Widgeon at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area (Armistead). Hawks . A Marsh Hawk seem from a helicopter over the Elliott Island marsh on July 2 (Charles Vaughn) was quite likely on breeding territory. After spotting a "teeming boil" of 1,500 Broad-winged Hawks high over Annapolis at 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 1 6 , heading west into gentle northwest winds, Hal Wierenga headed for Sandy Point State Park the following morning in hopes of intercepting a similar flight crossing the Bay from Kent Island. His efforts were well rewarded: between 11:30 and 1:30 he watched four flocks (250, 850, 600, and 350 birds) arrive from the Eastern Shore, rise on thermals over Sandy Point State Park, then drift westward. His two-day total was 3,588 Broad-wings! On the same day, the 17th, a flight of 550 Broad-wings proceeding down .the Fall Line was witnessed at "Parade Rest" near Port Deposit in Cecil County on an M0S trip hosted by Col. Leland Devore. The earliest three-figure flight of Broad-wings was observed on Sept. l4 when 117 were counted at Banners Overlook where Mertens Avenue crosses the crest of Town Hill (Paulus). Paul McKenzie stood watch in the tower at Monument Knob on South Mountain on Sept. 18 and for twelve hours each day from Sept. 21 through Sept. 24. His best Broad-wing counts were between 10 and 2 o'clock, with daily totals of 230, 133, 196, 8, and 2 Broad-wings for these five days. His five-day totals for other hawk species (excluding vultures) were: Sharp-shinned Hawk 20, Red-tail 17, Osprey 6, Sparrow Hawk 5, and Pigeon Hawk 2. Harry Armistead remarked on a "kettle" of 8 Ospreys riding a thermal with 10 Turkey Vultures at Bellevue on Aug. 11. On the same day he had his highest summer count of Bald Eagles at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge: 5 immatures and 2 adults. Rails and Gallinules . From Aug. 21 through Sept. 10 Jan Reese heard a Clapper Rail almost daily in a marsh near Chestertown; Parsons Island in Queen Annes County is as far north in the Bay as this species has been found in the breeding season. The first Sora of the fall was found at Irish Grove Sanctuary on Aug. 23 (Bystraks, Cole, and others). A Purple Gallinule was seen by many observers at "Hughes Hollow" near Seneca from July 17 onward (Peter Pyle). Shorebirds . The first fall arrivals were a Willet on July 1 and a Whimbrel on July 2, followed by a Short-billed Dowitcher on July 5 and a MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30, No. 4 lUU Semipalmated Sandpiper on July 7 (all at West Ocean City by Warfield). Stilt Sandpipers, rare away from tidewater, were identified at Rouge Lagoon near Oldtown on Sept, 4 (Paulus) and at Remington Farms in Kent County on Aug. 1 (Floyd Parks), as well as at Barren Island in the lower . Chesapeake, July 15 (Armistead). Other local rarities were a flock of 9 American Golden Plovers in Wicomico County on Sept. 8 (Vaughn), a Baird's Sandpiper in Washington County on Aug. 20 (Boone), a Long-billed Dowitcher at Rouge Lagoon near Oldtown on Sept. 4 (Paulus), and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandy Point State Park on Sept. 11 (Hal Wierenga). Jaegers „ Gulls . and Terns . In the Lower Chesapeake Bay, Harry Armistead had high summer counts of 55 Great Black-backed Gulls on July 15, and 175 to 300 Herring Gulls each on Holland, Pone, and Barren Is- lands, July 13-15. At sunrise on Sept. 29, Armistead waded out to Hills Point sandbar at the mouth of the Little Choptank River and counted 60 Great Black-backed Gulls, 75 Herring Gulls, 5 Ring-billed Gulls, 100 Laughing Gulls, 575 Forster's Terns, 78 Royal Terns, 9 Caspian Terns, and 20 Sanderlings . Any energetic birders who would like a long but productive walk through shallow Chesapeake waters are advised to make this trip in the next few years before the bar washes away. Compare Armistead' s count of 575 Forster's Terns with Hal Wierenga' s peak count of 3 birds 32 miles to the north at Sandy Point. As many as 27 Least Terns were counted at Sandy Point on Aug. 10, but the species failed to nest there this year. The only suspected nesting in Maryland was by 6 pairs seen at Barren Island on July 15 (Armistead). An adult Gull-billed Tern at Sandy Point on Aug. 10 was the first Hal Wierenga had ever seen in Anne Arundel County. One or two Sandwich Terns summered again near the Assateague Island bridge, where one was seen on June 20 by Steven Ray and reported by Dr. Prescott Ward. It was last seen at Assateague on Aug. 21 (Charles Hills). Parakeets , Cuckoos , Woodpeckers . Although no Monk Parakeets were sighted in this period, Jan Reese found a Canary-winged Parakeet on a utility wire in Oxford on July 8; inquiry revealed that the bird had been living in the area for several months. Charles Vaughn found a late unfledged Yellow-billed Cuckoo on a road near Berlin on Sept. 7; the adult was nearby trying to feed it. Jo Ann Dreyer saw a Pileated Wood- pecker at her Woodbridge Valley home in Catonsville on Sept. 19, and on the previous day Floyd Parks had the first sighting of this species in the Rock Hall area of Kent County. Several observers noted migrating Red-headed Woodpeckers in mid-September (see Table l). Flycatchers . Swallows . Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were found in ten counties. Two of the four sightings of Olive-sided Flycatchers were on the early date of Aug. l8: Emmitsburg by Dr. John Richards, and Montgomery County by Peter Pyle. Eastern Kingbird migration reached a peak on Aug. 22, when Hal Wierenga counted 75 at Sandy 'Point. A Cliff Swallow and 450 Banks were at Blackwater Refuge on Aug. 11 (Armistead). Ravens , Nuthatches , Wrens . On Aug. 25 and Sept. l4, Jim Paulus heard Common Ravens on the south point of Town Hill Mountain; and during hawk watches at Monument Knob, Paul McKenzie had high counts of 6 December 1974 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE ihi individuals on both Sept. 22 and Sept. 2k . Although Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported from nearly half the Maryland counties , numbers of individuals were consistently low. On Sept ♦ 1^ Marion Glass banded a Winter Wren at Towson, tying the fall arrival date set in 1953 in Wash- ington County. Thrushes . There was general agreement among banders that the Sep- tember migration of thrushes was sharply down from last year. Note that the median arrival date for 197k was about one week later than normal for the Swainson's Thrush and about two weeks late for the Gray-cheeked. The October numbers were nearer normal, but did not make up for the scarcity noted in September. The Robin was a decided exception to the scarcity of thrushes. John Cullom reported a roost of 5,000 to 6,000 for about three weeks prior to Sept . 2k near Woodlawn Cemetery in North- west Baltimore. Vireos . Peter Pyle reported a big flight of Philadelphia Vireos at the Audubon Naturalist Society headquarters at Woodend, Chevy Chase; during the period Sept. 1^-17 he saw at least 20 and banded 1. Fran Pope banded a White-eyed Vireo in Garrett County on Sept. l8; we know of no previous fall migration record of this vireo in our westernmost county . Warblers. Seventeen species of warblers were among the record- breaking 87 species of birds identified by Harry Armi stead on his shore property at Bellevue on Sept. 22; the American Redstart, with an esti- mated 50 individuals, led the list of warblers. The earliest migrant detected was an Ovenbird that hit the Wierengas' window in Annapolis on July 31; this species does not nest in that vicinity. Myrtle Warblers ■ were unusually abundant at Woodend, where 50 were banded as compared with only 6 last year; but Myrtles were not as common as usual at Irish Grove Sanctuary. The warbler migration was average, with all the usual species being reported. Grackles . A single Boat-tailed Grackle was found at Sandy Point State Park on July 29-30 and Aug. l4, Hal Wierenga's first observation in Anne Arundel County. House Finch . Early arrivals for this invading species were Aug . 31 at Sandy Point State Park (Hal Wierenga) and Sept . 1_ in Washington County . The first was not seen at Woodend until Sept. 15 (Peter Pyle). Sparrows . Henslow's Sparrows were almost non-existent this summer, but 4 were found at Sanford on Aug. 1 (Peter Pyle). Single White- throated Sparrows (2 on July 21) were seen sporadically at Woodend in June and July, and one was finally caught and banded on Aug. 28 (Peter Pyle) . 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Rd., Laurel 146 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol . 30, No. 4 COMMITTEES FOR 1974-75 AUDITING: Rodney Jones, Chairman 207 Oak Ave., Baltimore (486-3442) 21208 George Drumm Gerhard W. Holtz (679-4849) (730-7063) BLUEBIRD: Dr. Lawrence Zeleny Chairman 4312 Van Buren St. Hyattsville 20782 (927-3971) Mrs. Rena Bishop Daniel Boone Jon Boone Edwin T. McKnight Mrs. C. B. Perryclear (672-1978) (593-1206) (652-1107) (666-3814) BUDGET: Edwin T. McKnight Chairman 5038 Park Place Washington, D.C. 20016 (652-1107) Elwood L. Fisher W. Gordon MacGregor Charles Mason H. Edmund Stiles (725-3624) (435-3044) (202-362-6243) (776-4314) BY-LAWS: A. MacDonough Plant Chmn. , 1202 W. Lake Ave Baltimore 21210 (539-5040) John C.- Ford, Jr. Mrs . Nancy Rowe (267-8417) (665-7207) CONSERVATION: Lt.Col. Wm. G. Bodenstein Chmn., R.D.l, Box 366 (987-4658) Crownsville 21032 Dr. Robert Hahn (202-362-4172) Mrs. Elizabeth Hartline (592-8l62) CONVENTION:. Floyd Parks, Chmn. (778-3040) Miss Friel Sanders Col. Leland Devore (867-3644) (378-3473) EDUCATION: Dr. Benjamin Poscover Chairman 302-A Garden Road Baltimore 21204 (832-2548) Dr. Roger Herriott Dr. Donald Messersmith Mrs. James Plymire Chandler Robbins Charles Vaughn (823-7033) (593-5942) (778-1289) (725-1176) (742-7221) HELEN MILLER Dr. Mildred E. Gebhard SCHOLARSHIP: Chairman (642-6749) 1170 Avenue D, Box 33 Perry Point 21902 Paul Bystrak Mrs. Marion Glass Mrs. Marjorie Heise Thomas A. Robbins Mrs. C. G. Taylor (490-4442) (821-9225) (268-5396) (479-1413) (689-6791) INVESTMENT: Elting Arnold Chmn., 4914 Dorset Ave. Chevy Chase 20015 (652-7344) W. G. MacGregor R. Taylor McLean H. Edmund Stiles (435-3044) (377-7622) (776-4314) NOMINATING: Dr. Lawrence Zeleny Chairman 4312 Van Buren St. Hyattsville 20782 (927-3971) Mrs. Shirley Geddes Dr. Robert Hahn Charles Mason John W. Poteet, Jr. (377-6583) (202-362-4172) (202-362-6243) (448-1967) PUBLICATIONS: Chandler S. Robbins (725-1176) Editor, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Rd. Laurel 20810 Douglas Hackman Assistant Editor (668-1464) SANCTUARY: V. Edwin Unger (754-8820) Mrs. Gladys Cole ( 823 - 2650 ) Chmn., West Central Ave. Federalsburg 21632 Adventure: Mrs. M. B. Donnald (299-6840) Carey Run: Mrs. C. G. Taylor (689-6791) Irish Grove: Mrs. Robert Oakman (968-2429) Mill Creek: Robert Sharp II (822-2324) Pelot : A. J. Fletcher (479-1529) Rock Run: John Tomlinson (274-2355) Vice-Chairman Mrs. Helen Ford, Sec. William G. Nemith Charles Vaughn Robert K. Price Marvin Hewitt Rodney Jones (267-8417) (729-0344) (742-7221) ( 822 - 2381 ) (482-6842) (486-3442) December I 97 U MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 147 GROUND DOVE SIGHTED AT POINT LOOKOUT, MARYLAND Laddie Flyger While camping with our church group at Point Lookout, Maryland, on May 18, 1974, Fran (Mrs. Milton) Jacques and I naturally went birding. While walking along the road that separates the beach area from the woods, we almost' stepped on^ a small dove busily feeding in a grassy ditch. We observed it for some time as it did not flush, but only walked ahead of us. It had a short, dark-tipped tail, and a very pronounced moustache mark probably peculiar to this one bird. I am certain that this bird was a Ground Dove ( Colunbigallina passerina) . The size was right and so was the dun or light brown coloring. The habitat also was right, i.e., a 20- foot-wide grassy strip between the beach and the pine woods. The bird appeared fearless of us and did not take wing. It stayed very close to the ground, feeding on the grass seeds, and was well camouflaged in the grass. The only previous Maryland record is of a specimen obtained on October 14 , 1888 at Broad Creek in Prince Georges County (Stewart and Robbins, Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia, North American Fauna No. 62, 1958) . 1287 Circle Drive, Arnold, Md. GROUND DOVES AT GEORGE'S ISLAND LANDING, MARYLAND Charles Hills On August 21, 1974 at George's Island Landing in Worcester County, I observed two birds that I identified as Ground Doves ( Coliaribigallina passerina ) . Realizing that the species is very rare in Maryland, I was greatly surprised. The birds flushed as I drove down the road, and I was most fortunate to get a close look at them as they were but a few feet from my car. I noted the very rapid wingbeats and the very small size, one-half the size of a Mourning Dove. The outer parts of the wings were much richer brown than the back, which was gray-brown in color. The tail was rounded and quite short. I did not detect any white in the tail. I noted the above characteristics on both birds. The only character that I did not see was the exact amount of black in the tail. The full-tailness of the birds, along with the extremely small size, eliminates the Mourning Dove. 3052 Burr Street, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430 WATCH FOR COLOR-MARKED SHOREBIRDS In an extensive study of east-coast shorebird migration, sandpipers and plovers are being marked with colored dyes and colored legbands. Please report sightings promptly to your editor. MARYLAND BIRD LIFE Vol . 30, No. h 1U8 PLEASE HELP FIND THE EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL A study is now underway to determine the present range and distri- bution of the Eastern Fox Squirrel in Maryland. Almost twice the length and weight, and much stockier than the common Gray Squirrel, the Eastern Fox Squirrel may vary from black to a "fox-like" red color. Its larger size is the most obvious field identification character. It might be found anywhere in Maryland, especially west of Chesapeake Bay, but no- where in the State is it known to be common. It is not to be confused with the Delmarva Fox Squirrel, similar in size but limited to the East- ern Shore of Maryland. Please report any observation of an Eastern Fox Squirrel in Mary-, land or bordering states to me at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Maryland, College Park 207^2, or by telephone at U5L-56U1. Please report the date and exact location. Thank you. ^ Bill Kramer CONTENTS, DECEMBER 197^ Eastern Kingbird Strikes Pond Surface Jan G. Reese 127 Iceland Gulls, Forster's Tern Nests, and Breeding Herons in Dorchester County Henry T. Armistead 128 Nesting Success of Chesapeake Bay Ospreys, 197*+ Jan G. Reese 132 Lesser Nighthawk Believed Sighted in Maryland J. H. & E. H. Fales 133 Audubon Workshop in Maine, August 197 1 * . Tom Robbins 135 The President's Page Barclay E. Tucker 136 First Occurrence of the Swallow-tailed Kite in Western Maryland Kendrick Y. Hodgdon 137 Fourth List of Contributors to Carey Run Sanctuary Fund 138 The Season — July, August, September, 197 1 * Chandler S. Robbins 139 Committees for 197^-75 # 1^6 Ground Dove Sighted at Point Lookout, Maryland Laddie Flyger IU7 Ground Doves at George's Island Landing, Md. Charles Hills 1^7 Announcements 1L7-1L8 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds of Maryland. Editor: Asst. Editor: Art Editor: Production : Mailing: Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road, Laurel, Md. 20810 (725-1176) C. Douglas Hackman, 3033 Woods ide Ave., Balto. 2123^ William N. Schneider Romell Decker Barbara Larrabee and committee