MARYLAND BIRDLIFE MARCH 1987 VOLUME 43 NUMBER 1 MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21209 STATE OFFICERS FOR JUNE 1986 TO AUGUST 1987 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL President: CDR Anthony White, 5872 Marbury Rd., Bethesda 20817 229-1641 Vice President: Richard J. Dolesh, 17800 Croom Rd., Brandywine 20613 627-6074 Treasurer: Emily Joyce, 816 Oak Trail, Crownsville 21032 923-6053 Secretary: Patricia J. Moore, 24600 Woodfield Rd., Damascus 21403 253-2796 Executive Secy: Joy Aso, 1250 4th St., S W, Wash. D.C. 20024 (202) 554-8529 Past President: Martha Chestem, 10850 Faulkner Rdg. Cr., Col. 21044 730-1527 STATE DIRECTORS Allegany: •Teresa Simons Mark Weatherholt Howard •John Clegg Jane H. Farrell Thomas Strikwerda Anne Arundel •Helen Ford Franklin Atwell Paul Zucker Baltimore Laddie Flyger •Benjamin H. Kaestner Jug Bay •Jean Tierney Joan Stephens John Cullom Graham Egerton Alex Hammer Kent •Margaret H. Jones Margaret Duncan MacDonough Plant Robert Ringler Stephen W. Simon Joy Wheeler Montgomery •Gary Nelson Margaret Donnald Minette McCullough John Malcolm Caroline •Mariana Nuttle Oliver Smith Patuxent •Sam Droege Chandler S. Robbins Carroll •Geraldine Newton Talbot •Virginia Graebert Jeff Effinger Frederick •Melvin Bennett Michael Welch Washington Steve Goodbred •Robert Keedy Harford •Kermit Updegrove Pat Fetchero Mary Corderman Todd Holden William Russell Wicomico •Carol Broderick Lee Meinersmann Active Membership (adults) Student Membership (full-time students) Junior Membership (under 18 years) Family Membership (Mr. & Mrs.) Sustaining Membership Life Membership Member-at-Large (Maryland Birdlife only) Denotes Chapter President 6.00 plus local chapter dues 2.00 plus local chapter dues 1.00 plus local chapter dues 8.00 plus local chapter dues 10.00 plus local chapter dues 200.00 (4 annual installments) 5.00 Coyen Baird’s Sandpiper at Hart — Miller Impoundment, Baltimore County, Oct. 5, 1986. Photo by Bob Ringler. MARYLAND BIRDLIFE iilllllllllllll VOLUME 43 MARCH 1987 NUMBER 1 BELT WOODS: BITTERSWEET VICTORY Mary Sykes Wylie On July 1, 1986, Belt Woods, a 109-acre tract of mature forest and buffer zone in Prince George's County, came under the coverage of the Maryland Natural Resources Wildland and Open Areas act, a law passed in 1971 that preserves and protects state-owned areas designated as “wildlands” by the General Assembly. The protected land in this instance is the southern one of two parcels of forest and farmland, originally part of the 624-acre estate of W. Seton Belt, who died in 1959. The northern parcel was destroyed in 1981 when the wood was sold to a New Jersey furniture company. Under the 1971 legislation, the southern section, or Belt Woods, has been designated a Type 2 Ecologic Wildland, a natural area with “outstanding value for education, research, and appreciation of natural processes”; the law specifies that to preserve its wildland character, no commercial enter- prises, structures, permanent roads (except fire roads and trails), motor vehicles and equipment, or plane landing strips will be allowed. The land was already under the administrative protection of the state's Department of Natural Resources, which acquired it through Program Open Space in 1984 for $802,840. Under the wildlands law, however, the mandate for preservation of Belt Woods is much stronger, requiring a legislative repeal or change in the law itself for any altera- tion in the land’s status as a protected natural area. Certainly this land deserves protection. Partly enclosed by over sixty acres of buffer fields and younger forest, the section of old, deciduous forest that is the focal point of wildlands designation comprises only about forty acres of the protected tract. Nonetheless, it is an extraordinary parcel, containing very tall poplar and oak trees — some up to 400 years old — and an understory of dogwood, spicebush, sweet haw, and mockernut hickory. The dominant trees of the woods average over two feet in diameter, a fair number over three feet. The canopy is 150 feet high, towering above a forest floor that has been called a “veritable museum of wild flowers and lesser plant species." The woods even create, to some extent, their own climate, being darker, cooler, wetter, and less windy than surrounding areas. Because of the great height of the forest canopy, two populations of birds nest in the forest, a floor community and another high in the mature trees. In 1947, Chandler Robbins and Robert E. Stewart prepared a bird census of the south woods and found what they believed to be “the highest density bird populations ever reported in a pure deciduous forest without edge effect.” Robert Whitcomb, a research entomologist with the -U.S. Department of Agriculture, and his asso- ciates found in their follow-up bird census of 1975 much the same populations as 4 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 thirty years before. Unfortunately, because of the fragmentation of the forest and the further isolation of the southern tract after the northern area was lumbered, these populations are expected to decline. In 1974, the Interior Department recognized the south tract of the Belt estate as a National Natural Landmark. As part of the effort to have the land so registered, Gary Waggoner, an ecologist with the Smithsonian, wrote in an evaluation report submitted to the Department that the area was “undoubtedly one of the finest examples of mature upland hardwood forest remaining in the Atlantic Coastal Plain.” This recognition entailed no statutory protection for the parcel, though it was clearly helpful in the ensuing campaign to preserve Belt Woods. Although there is some debate about whether Belt Woods is, in its entirety, a “virgin” forest, it undoubtedly has never been clearcut, and many of the trees must have been saplings when the first Europeans stepped on American soil. Even with declining bird species counts, the forest offers an extraordinary opportunity to study a natural area very much as it was in pre-Columbian times; it is the true forest primeval that has all but disappeared in most of the United States. As such, Belt Woods represents a kind of forest benchmark of natural history, allowing ecologists to reconstruct the composition of Eastern deciduous forests and trace the complex interrelationships between different species as they existed before their disruption by human civilization. While conservationists should be pleased by the statutory protection gained for Belt Woods, the victory is nonetheless bittersweet, shadowed by the loss of the northern woods only a few years ago. Ironically, W. Seton Belt, whose family had owned the land for generations, was determined that the woods would never be cut. At his death, he left his farm and forests to the Episcopal Diocese, stipulating in his will that his house and farm lands should provide housing for retired Fig. 1. North woods after removal of large trees. March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 5 Episcopal clergy and income for the church, while “the timber on said farm shall not be sold but shall only be used for the purpose of repairs and improvements to the buildings and fences and for fire wood.” The destruction of Belt’s farm house by fire after his death, as well as changing economic conditions and different social priorities, caused the church to plan construction of new housing on the land for low-income residents, 25 percent of whom would be elderly. Under this plan, the diocese would still maintain both tracts of woods as Belt intended. The Prince George’s County Council, however, refused in 1975 to grant a rezon- ing permit allowing the construction; the church decided instead to build low- income housing in Washington, and began considering other ways of making use of the investment represented by the Belt holdings. By this time the value of the property had increased tenfold, from a worth of $1 million in 1959 to $10 million fifteen years later. The Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore, administrators of the Belt estate, challenged the will in court, so that the diocese could sell the farmland and the wood rights of the forest, and thus realize the increased value of the property. The court effort was successful, and in 1981, the trees in the north tract were cut down for veneer — very fine veneer, given the high quality, straight lines, and good health of the mature trees! At that time, the diocese stated its intention of preserving the southern tract, already a National Natural Landmark, but the north tract was gone, which materially lessened the likelihood of the south woods remaining unchanged and its bird populations remaining stable. In a 1975 report to the District Council of Prince George’s County, scientists and conservationists had urged that the northern section not be cut in order to prevent the isolation of the south parcel. Ecological research, they pointed out, “has clearly shown that habitats surrounded by other incompatible habitats support fewer species than comparable areas with large tracts of similar habitat.” As is now known only too well, natural areas below Fig. 2. Large oaks just after felling. All photos by Matthew C. Perry. 6 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol, 48, No. 1 a certain minimal size, however pristine, cannot support viable populations of many bird species, including, for example, larger birds like the Pileated Wood- pecker, Barred Owl, and Red-tailed Hawk, and smaller forest interior birds like the Ovenbird and the Black-and-white Warbler. What has been preserved at Belt Woods is a glorious, but tiny, relic, a micro- cosm of the kind of landscape that, half a millennium ago, made up the Eastern Seacoast Plain. Both the limited success and deplorable failure of the Belt Woods effort comprise lessons for the future. The good news is that the state not only acted, finally, to save part of this forest land, but acted intelligently as well, by including in the acquisition of the southern area a large buffer zone of younger forest and farmland that protects the mature forest from root disruption, wind damage, pollution, alien species (like cats and dogs), pesticides, and noise. This “ecotone” around a mature forest is as important as the forest itself, because it protects the ecologically significant site from the inevitable depredations, natural and man-made, of surrounding areas. On the other hand, the loss of the northern woods demonstrates failures of omission as well as commission, in that scientific research on the area’s unique ecology was apparently begun only at the penultimate moment when plans for its demise were well underway. Today, in Maryland and Virginia, are very large, rich woodland areas that are already “protected” to a greater or lesser degree: Cedarville State Forest, Little Bennet Regional Park, and Prince William Forest are examples. Yet, at a time of rocketing land values, when the region is undergoing an orgy of development, who can promise that these thousands of “unused” acres will not one day invite piece-by -piece encroachment? Not only is political vigilance required — no natural area should be complacently regarded as absolutely safe — but strategies for protection must be built into the enjoyment Fig. 3. Oak stump in north woods. March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 7 citizens already derive from these places. According to Robert Whitcomb, these protected forests will themselves become large-scale editions of Belt Woods years from now, viable, self-sustaining ancient forests, if they are allowed to maintain their integrity in size and natural development. A major strategy in this on-going campaign is the careful gathering of data on their flora and fauna, the compilation of complete biotic inventories of plants and animals that becomes the ammunition, so to speak, in future preservation efforts. Whitcomb pointed out that the 1947 bird census of Belt Woods by Chandler Robbins and Robert Stewart, and the follow-up in 1975, were instrumental in convincing public authorities of the woods’ ecological significance. Many of these surveys can be and often are done by amateur naturalists, whose work has been invaluable for the protection of natural areas around the world. Fig. 4. Logs dragged to nearby field. Often such areas seem useless to people uncommitted to the values of natural preservation; Belt Woods, for example, will never even be a recreational area — there are no trails or nature centers — and casual visitors are discouraged in order to reduce human impact on what is, after all, an ecologically sensitive area. Still, no one who cares about the planet can be anything but relieved that this small wooded space has been saved. It is pleasant to think, furthermore, that the fine, large tracts of younger woodlands in this area might look as majestic to future generations as they must have looked to native Americans before the Europeans arrived. Researchers and conservationists who have worked for statutory protection of Belt Woods believe that the general public should not visit the area without prior clearance, particularly during breeding seasons. Requests can be made to the Maryland Forest Park and Wildlife Service, 888-1638. 1206 Floral St, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20012 8 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 THE SEASON Fall Migration— August 1— November 30, 1986 Robert F. Ringler The drought continued through the remainder of the summer and into the autumn with some relief coming in November. The result once again was excel- lent conditions for shorebirds at the reservoirs and other localities with low water levels. Fortunately, reporting was very good from these places. Most observers found few waves of migrant land birds, which is understandable considering the few frontal systems that crossed the State. September 7 in Talbot County, September 18 in Garrett County, and October 4 in Kent and Worcester counties were among the better days. There were few lingering migrant passerines this year. The majority of species departed earlier than the 10-year median for each (Table 1). Abbreviations: DC - District of Columbia, PNAS - Patuxent Naval Air Station, St. Marys County; PWRC - Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Prince Georges County; SP - State Park; WMA - Wildlife Management Area; “ + ” - additional observers to those named. Place names that are frequently mentioned here that do not appear on most maps are Brandon Shores in Anne Arundel County on the Patapsco River just south of the Baltimore city line, Hart - Miller Island Dredged Material Contain- ment Facility located in the Baltimore County portion of Chesapeake Bay, Hughes Hollow which is part of McKee-Beshers WMA along the Potomac River in Montgomery County, North Branch in Allegany County on the Potomac River south of Cumberland, Swan Point in Kent County which extends into Chesapeake Bay near Rock Hall, and Tower Gardens which is a community in Queen Annes County on southern Kent Island on a body of water known as North West Creek which attracts shorebirds during periods of low water. Other place names can be found on state highway maps of recent issue. OBSERVERS (by county): Garrett — Fran Pope, Connie Skipper (both banding at Broadford Run Beaver Dam near Oakland), Sallie Thayer (banding at Mt. Nebo). Allegany — Ray Kiddy, Teresa Simons. Washington — Alice Mallonee, Sam Shoemaker. Carroll — Mark Wright. Baltimore — Bruce Beehler, Kye Jenkins, Hank Kaestner, Mike Resch, Barbara Ross (banding at St. Timothy’s School near Stevenson), Steve Simon, Jim Wilkinson. Harford — Rick Blom, Dennis Kirkwood, Bob Schutsky. Cecil — Harold Fogleman. Howard — Brenda Bell, Jim Bogdan, Jon E. & Jon K. Boone, Martha Chestem, Frances Ehlers, Jane Farrell, Jane & Ralph Geuder, Jim Hill, David Holmes, Marcia Krishnamoorthy, Chris Ludwig, Grazina & Mike McClure, Harvey & Marion Mudd, Rosamond Munro, Don Randle, Jim Ruos, Jay Sheppard, Bob & Jo Solem (county compiler), Tom Strikwerda, Mark Wallace, Cathy Williamson. Montgomery — Larry Bonham, Margaret Donnald (banding at Adventure Sanctuary), John, Michael & Paul O’Brien. District of Columbia — David Czaplak. Prince Georges — Sam Droege, Greg Kearns, Kathy March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 9 Klimkiewicz (banding at PWRC), Peter Osenton, Chan Robbins (banding at Laurel). Anne Arundel — Chris Beaton, Dotty Mumford. Charles — Paul Nistico. Calvert— Jim Stasz. St. Marys— Mike Bryan, George Jett, Kyle Rambo, Ron Runkles (banding at Laurel Grove), Erika Wilson. Kent— Jim & Patricia Gruber (banding at Damsite)' J- & Z. Parks. Queen Annes — Sue Ricciardi. Caroline — E. Bilbrough, Ethel & Wilbur Engle, Jerry & Roberta Fletcher (county compiler), Inez Glime, Marvin Hewitt, Alicia Knotts, Mariana Nuttle, Wilbur Rittenhouse, L.T. Short, R. Webster, Steve Westre. Talbot — Jan Reese, Lower Eastern Shore — George & Henry Armistead, Lynn Davidson, Sam Dyke, Greg Gough, Floyd Hayes, Alice Jones, Wayne Klockner, Paul Pisano, Charlie Swift, Scott Ward, Robert Warfield, Hal Wierenga. Many observers reported from more than one county but the area of most reports is given above. Banders are not acknowledged in the following text but are noted above and any mention of banded birds at a specific location can be referred to the people named. Special thanks go to those that compile for all observers in one county. Loons, Grebes, Pelagics. The only Red-throated Loons reported were 1 at Hooper Island on Nov. 9 (Armistead + ) and 3 at West Ocean City on Nov. 23 (Warfield). Common Loons that probably summered locally were 1 on Triadelphia Reservoir near Brighton Dam on Aug. 2 (H. Mudd) and 2 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 (Ringler + ). Typically early migrants were 2 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese), 2 in DC on Sept. 15 (Czaplak), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 20 (Armistead) and 1 off Swan Point on Sept. 27 (J. Gruber). High local counts of Common Loons were 45 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 5 (Ringler + ), 35 on the Choptank River in Talbot County on Oct. 12 (Armistead + ), 19 off Hills Point Neck, Dorchester County on Oct. 26 (Czaplak) and 350 off Swan Point on Nov. 4 (J. Gruber). Single Pied-billed Grebes were in DC on Aug. 12 (Czaplak) and on Centennial Lake in Columbia on Sept. 12 (McClures). High counts of Pied-bills were 40 at Deal Island WM A on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ) and a surprising 79 on Loch Raven on Oct. 22 (Blom). The 2 Horned Grebes on Loch Raven on Oct. 7 (Simon) and 1 at St. George Island on Oct. 16 (Wilson) were early migrants and 13 at Seneca on Nov. 20 (Warfield) was a good count for that part of the Potomac River. No large flocks were reported. Red- necked Grebes are rarely seen in the fall, but this year reports were of 1 at Piney Run on Nov. 6 (Wright), 4 off Downs Memorial Park in Anne Arundel County on Nov. 29 (Resch) and 1 on Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler). Stasz saw 2 storm-petrels off North Beach on Aug. 21 but they were too far away to identify. Storm-petrels are rarely seen in Chesapeake Bay, but occasionally wander into the lower part in the summer. The first Northern Gannets of the season were 2 off Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). Warfield noted 10 Brown Pelicans at Ocean City on Aug. 5-10 and 4 on Aug. 12; the last report of the year was of 2 flying north off Assateague on Sept. 5 (Blom + ). All pelagic trips were weathered out this season. Cormorants. The previously reported Great Cormorant summering at Hart - Miller was seen there through Sept. 21; then 5 birds were present on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 (Ringler + ) as migrants began arriving for a short stay. At Ocean City 3 immature Great Cormorants were seen on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and an adult with 4 immatures on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien). On the Potomac an immature was in DC on Oct. 15 and Nov. 10 (Czaplak) and an adult at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (P. O’Brien). This is the best early fall showing for this species in the region. Double- crested Cormorants continue to increase and remain later in the year in significant numbers. In the northern part of the bay there were 225 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol.43, No. 1 10 (Ringler + ), 125 at Rock Hall on Aug. 14 (J. Gruber) and 123 flying past Eastern Neck on Sept. 28 (J.Gruber). In addition Blom noted 15 at Conowingo on Sept. 28 and Kirkwood saw 1 at Havre de Grace on Oct. 25 indicating some movement along the Susquehanna. In Baltimore there were 65 at Leading Point on Aug. 30 (Blom), a good count for the city. On the Potomac, Czaplak found 55 in DC on Sept. 2 and Oct. 3, also good counts for that city. Inland, single birds were seen at Triadelphia Reservoir on Aug. 16 (H. Mudd) and Sept. 23 and Oct. 9 (Wallace), and 5 were at Jug Bay on Oct. 30 (Mumford). In the lower part of the bay there were 200 at Hooper Island on Aug. 24 (Armistead + ), 126 at Cove Point on Sept. 1 and 131 there on Oct. 25 (Stasz), 30 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese) and 230 in southern Dorchester County on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones). All of these concen- trations were outshown by the estimated 2500 flying south past Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ), obviously the peak of the migration. Most of the lingering birds departed during November with observations that month being 125 at Hooper Island on the 9th and only 1 remaining on the 15th (H. Armistead + ), 10 at Tanyard on the 12th (E. Engle), an adult at Piney Run on the 15th (Blom, Ricciardi, Ringler, 4 near Bellevue on the 16th (H. Armistead), 2 in DC on the 24th (Czaplak), 50 at Brandon Shores on the 22nd (Ricciardi, Ringler) and 1 at Loch Raven on the 30th (Kaestner, Beehler), the latter being exceptionally late for an inland bird. Herons, Ibis. The only American Bitterns reported were single birds at Deal Island WMA on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ) and Nov. 28 (Czaplak) and at Jug Bay on Nov. 16 (Mumford, Beaton). This species has become increasingly scarce in migration. The last reports of Least Bitterns for the year were 3 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 3 and 1 there on Aug. 31 (Ringler + ), and 2 at Jug Bay on Aug. 12 (Kearns). Minor concentrations of Great Blue Herons were 15 at Liberty Reservoir on Oct. 4 (Ringler) and 15 in DC on Nov. 23 (Czaplak); 46 were seen flying over Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). High local counts of Great Egrets were 24 at Hughes Hollow on Aug. 3 (Mieke Mehlman), 3 at Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia on Aug. 8 (Ludwig), 6 at Lilypons on Aug. 9 (Ringler, Blom), 8 at Masonville in Baltimore on Aug. 23 (Blom), 15 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese) and 12 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 27 (Ricciardi). Another Great Egret was at Green Manor Turf Farm near Sykesville in Howard County on Sept. 1 (Ringler), 1 was at Tanyard on Sept. 23 (E. Engle), and single late birds were at Rock Hall on Nov. 6 (J. Gruber), Tower Gardens on Nov. 9 (Ricciardi) and, exceptionally late for the Piedmont, at Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler). By far the greatest concentration of Snowy Egrets seen this fall was 115 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 5 (Ricciardi); others of note were 7 at Tanyard on Sept. 17 and 1 there on Nov. 1 (E. Engle), and 1 in DC on Oct. 15 (Czaplak). Familiar small concentrations of Little Blue Herons were 2 adults and 7 immatures at Elkton on Aug. 17 (Blom) and 5 at Tower Gardens on Aug. 31 (Ricciardi); late birds were an immature near Berlin on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and 1 in Howard County on Oct. 14 (Wallace). Rare inland was a Tricolored Heron in Carroll County at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 9-17 (Blom, Ringler); others, at expected locations, were 8 at Fairmount WMA on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead), 8 at West Ocean City on Sept. 12 (Czaplak), 2 at Elliott on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones), 4 at Deal Island WMA on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ) and 1 there on Nov. 28 (Czaplak). Gruber found 3 Cattle Egrets at Remington Farms in Kent County on Sept. 2 and there were 7 near Bellevue on Sept. 28 (H. Armistead), 1 at West Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and 1 extremely late individual at Conowingo on Nov. 11 (Blom). The largest groups of Green-backed Herons were 8 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 17 (Ringler) and 20 on Little Monie Creek on Aug. 23 (Dyke); the latest bird was at Tuckahoe State Park on Oct. 28 March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 11 Table 1. Fall Arrival/Departure Dates, 1986 Arrivals Departures Species 10-Yr. 1986 10-Yr. 1986 Common Loon Horned Grebe Double-crested Cormorant American Bittern Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Green-backed Heron Glossy Ibis Tundra Swan Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Northern Pintail Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Oldsquaw Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Sora American Coot Black-bellied Plover Lesser Golden-Plover Semipalmated Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Upland Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone • 10/7 10/3 - - 11/5 11/3 - - 8/21 7/30 10/24 11/27 10/22 10/13 - - 7/29 7/21 10/14 11/6 7/29 7/17 10/14 10/14 7/30 7/27 9/15 9/1 - - 10/12 9/28 - - 10/7 9/28 - - 9/23 9/13 11/10 11/8 - - 10/9 10/5 - - 9/23 9/21 - - - - 11/15 11/16 9/8 8/31 - - 9/29 9/13 - - 8/20 8/15 10/13 10/12 10/10 9/2 - 10/15 10/11 - - 9/28 9/14 - - 11/3 11/2 - - 11/8 11/7 - - 10/24 10/13 - - 11/3 10/13 - 10/21 10/13 - - 11/8 10/28 - - 10/19 10/19 - - 10/20 10/25 - - 10/26 10/22 - - 11/9 11/6 - - 11/1 11/1 - - 11/12 11/10 - - 11/18 11/20 — ■ • - 11/12 11/8 - - 10/11 10/7 - - 8/23 8/12 10/23 11/3 9/11 9/7 - - 9/19 9/13 - 9/20 9/11 — 8/24 8/29 10/4 ’ 10/5 11/12 11/1 - - 8/17 8/11 - - 9/23 9/21 - - 9/7 9/1 - - 10/15 10/9 - - 8/20 8/8 - - 9/12 8/31 10/6 10/5 7/31 7/28 10/1 10/13 7/26 7/25 11/7 11/6 7/18 7/13 10/22 10/19 7/23 7/18 9/23 9/26 7/17 7/13 10/4 10/4 8/6 7/22 8/25 8/20 7/31 7/26 - - 12 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 Table 1. Fall Arrival/Departure Dates, 1986 Arrivals Departures Species 10-Yr . 1986 10-Yr. 1986 Red Knot 8/24 8/21 9/20 10/19 Sanderling 7/30 7/25 10/22 11/9 Semipalmated Sandpiper 7/25 7/15 10/3 10/12 Western Sandpiper 8/1 7/26 10/22 10/17 Least Sandpiper 7/15 7/13 10/5 10/13 White-rumped Sandpiper - 9/1 10/24 10/18 Pectoral Sandpiper 7/30 7/27 10/27 10/31 Dunlin 10/7 10/5 11/3 11/13 Stilt Sandpiper 8/10 8/4 9/29 10/15 Short-billed Dowitcher 7/18 7/15 9/13 9/25 Common Snipe 9/17 9/7 - - Laughing Gull - - 11/26 12/24 Bonaparte's Gull 11/15 10/20 - - Caspian Tern 8/4 7/19 10/11 10/16 Royal Tern - - 11/7 11/19 Common Tern 8/13 7/23 10/9 9/12 Forster’s Tern 7/26 7/16 11/10 11/17 Least Tern - - 8/20 8/31 Black Tern 7/31 7/24 9/3 9/5 Black-billed Cuckoo _ - 9/22 9/14 Yellow-billed Cuckoo _ - 10/2 9/28 Short-eared Owl 11/10 11/2 - _ Northern Saw-whet Owl 11/4 10/23 _ _ Common Nighthawk 8/20 8/22 9/19 9/13 Chimney Swift - - 10/10 10/8 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - - 9/28 9/20 Red headed Woodpecker 9/24 9/14 _ _ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 9/29 10/5 - _ Olive-sided Flycatcher 8/28 8/31 9/8 9/6 Eastern Wood-Pewee - - 10/2 9/29 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 8/22 8/24 9/20 9/24 Acadian Flycatcher - - 9/16 9/18 Traill’s Flycatcher 8/21 8/19 9/13 9/14 Least Flycatcher 8/22 8/22 9/25 9/21 Eastern Phoebe - - 10/26 10/21 Great Crested Flycatcher - - 9/14 9/13 Eastern Kingbird - - 9/12 9/7 Purple Martin - ■ - 9/7 9/3 Tree Swallow 8/4 7/22 10/20 10/23 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - - 10/2 9/17 Bank Swallow 7/23 7/12 9/13 9/6 Cliff Swallow - - 9/6 9/4 Barn Swallow - - 9/29 9/20 Red-breasted Nuthatch 9/12 9/11 - - Brown Creeper 10/1 10/4 - - House Wren - - 10/12 10/10 Winter Wren 10/3 10/4 - - Golden-crowned Kinglet 10/6 10/4 - - Ruby-crowned Kinglet 9/23 9/21 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - - 9/12 9/14 Veery 8/28 8/29 9/27 9/30 Gray-cheeked Thrush 9/20 9/20 10/9 10/10 Swainson’s Thrush 9/4 9/7 10/15 10/16 Hermit Thrush 10/8 10/8 11/3 11/12 March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 13 Table 1. Fall Arrival/Departure Dates, 1986 Arrivals Departures Species 10-Yr. 1986 10- Yr. 1986 Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Water Pipit Cedar Waxwing White-eyed Vireo Solitary Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Canada Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow - - 10/8 10/9 - - 10/24 10/29 - - 10/12 10/12 10/18 10/25 - - 8/29 8/27 - - - - 10/2 9/30 9/27 9/20 10/17 10/15 - - 9/14 9/14 - - 9/14 9/21 - - 10/4 10/1 8/19 8/19 9/14 9/13 8/29 8/30 10/10 10/5 9/5 9/7 10/10 10/7 - - 10/5 10/1 - - 9/16 9/20 8/24 8/26 9/26 9/22 8/29 8/24 10/11 10/11 9/4 9/1 10/9 10/9 9/2 9/3 10/10 10/12 9/28 9/22 - - 9/8 9/6 10/11 10/10 8/25 8/25 9/26 9/19 - - 9/11 9/8 - - 10/4 10/7 - - 9/18 9/21 9/22 9/16 10/24 10/19 9/5 9/7 10/1 10/2 9/12 9/14 10/8 10/9 8/19 8/15 10/8 10/6 8/16 8/18 10/7 10/7 - - 9/7 9/6 8/19 8/19 10/7 10/6 8/21 8/16 9/25 9/25 - - 9/4 9/3 9/9 9/9 9/29 10/3 8/30 8/19 9/24 9/26 - 10/19 10/14 - 9/19 9/13 9/3 9/7 9/22 9/22 8/18 8/21 9/21 9/20 - - 9/21 9/16 - - 9/19 9/16 - - 10/6 10/1 9/6 9/7 10/5 9/30 - - 9/19 9/16 - - 10/7 10/2 11/15 11/22 - - - - 11/2 11/1 9/23 9/12 - - 10/30 11/7 - - 9/23 9/17 10/19 10/17 10/2 10/5 - - 9/29 9/30 - - 10/13 10/10 - - 14 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 Table 1. Fall Arrival/Departure Dates, 1986 Arrivals Departures Species 10-Yr. 1986 10- Yr. 1986 Dark-eyed Junco 10/3 9/29 Snow Bunting 11/8 10/28 _ _ Bobolink 8/22 8/24 9/25 9/14 Rusty Blackbird 10/19 10/16 _ _ Northern Oriole _ _ 9/16 9/14 Purple Finch 10/3 9/21 _ _ Common Redpoll 1/29 1/31 _ Pine Siskin 10/24 10/19 _ _ Evening Grosbeak 11/2 11/6 - - (Fletchers). Interesting reports of Black-crowned Night-Herons were an immature at St. Michaels on Aug. 1 (Reese), 1 at North Beach on Aug. 4 (Stasz), 16 at Masonville in Baltimore on Aug. 23 (Blom), 24 at Conowingo on Nov. 6 (Blom), an immature at Lake Elkhorn in Columbia, Nov. 18 through Dec. 8 (Hill + ), and 12 in Baltimore on Nov. 22 (Ringler, Ricciardi). The last report of Yellow-crowned Night- Heron was an adult in Baltimore on Sept. 29 (Ringler). Very few Glossy Ibis were seen this fall, but 1 was at North Beach on Aug. 5 (Stasz), 1 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 (Ringler + ), 4 at Fairraount WMA on Aug. 14 (Armistead), 1 at Elkton on Aug. 14-17 (Blom) and 1 at the Easton sewage lagoons on Oct. 13 (Karen Skuldt + ). Whistling-Ducks and Swans. A Fulvous Whistling-Duck was shot by a hunter near Nottingham on Nov. 19 and the mounted specimen went to Greg Kearns. The Black-bellied Whistling Duck at Gaithersburg on Nov. 3 (Bev Leeuwenberg) is a known escape. A few early Tundra Swans were seen beginning with an adult at Unity in Montgomery County on Nov. 1 (Ringler), 50 at Easton on Nov. 3 (Reese), 20 at Rock Hall on Nov. 3 (J. Gruber), 27 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 8 (Simons), 200 near Ruthsburg on Nov. 9 (Michael Jennison) and 3 on Georgetown Reservoir on the latter date (Howard Elitzak). As usual the main flight of swans occurred on one day and this year it fell on the 12th of November with most of the observations being in the central part of the state. On that day reports were 1100 over turn Suden Sanctuary (Blom), 1255 over Seneca (Warfield), 1150 over Laurel (Wierenga), 1000 over Triadelphia (Chestem), 10-12 flocks over southern Howard County (Munro), 12,000 over Rock Hall (Grubers), 67 at DC (Czaplak) and several hundred of PWRC (Flora Phelps). High counts of Mute Swans along the bay were 138 at Hooper Island on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead) and 130 at Eastern Neck on Sept. 21 (Ringler, Ricciardi); inland there were 2 on Lake Elkhorn from Oct. 25 through the end of the period (Hill + ). Geese. The earliest ever Greater White-fronted Goose in the state was an adult at Remington Farms on Sept. 21 with 3 hybrid young and the Canada Goose mate (Ringler, Ricciardi). This family was also seen there on Sept. 27 (Davidson). Other adult White-fronts were 1 at Blackwater on Oct. 5 (Ricciardi, Mumford), 1 at Merkle WMA on Oct. 18 (Terry Gordon) and 1 at Gaithersburg from Oct. 19 through at least Nov. 28 (Wayne Sieck + ). Early Snow Geese were 1 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 21 (Blom + ), 27 (all blues) at Blackwater on Sept. 27 (Ricciardi, Ringler), 1 white and 1 blue at Remington Farms on Oct. 5 (J. Gruber), 3 at Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ) and 2 near Bellevue on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ). Inland were 2 blues near Lothian on Nov. 16 (Mumford) and 1 blue near Clarksville on Nov. 28 (Osenton). High counts of Snow Geese were 100 at Denton on Nov. 10 (C. Fletcher) and 1800 at Blackwater on Nov. 27 (Czaplak). There were no reports of Brant this fall! An adult Barnacle Goose was seen with a flock of Canada Geese on a pond near March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 15 Fruitland in Wicomico County on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ). The 11 Canada Geese on the Tuckahoe River at Tanyard on Aug. 4 were summering birds, but the 50 seen there on Sept. 15 (W. Engle) may have been migrants. Many other migrants were soon to follow as there were 225 near Bellevue on Sept. 20 (H. Armistead) and 3300 in Kent County on Sept. 21 (Ricciardi, Ringler). The latter birds included flocks of 1100 at Chestertown, 2100 at Remington Farms and 100 at Eastern Neck. Included in the birds at Chestertown were 2 with orange neck collars that had been placed on those birds only a month and a half before in Quebec on Aug. 5, 1986. The Grubers noted a big flight of Canadas over Rock Hall on Oct. 3 comprised of 7000 birds. Wilson found 752 Canadas in St. Marys County on Oct. 16 and Simon tallied 2185 on Loch Raven on Nov. 25. A Canada Goose with an all-white body was in the flock at Gaithersburg at least during Nov. 1-9 (Ringler + ). Dabbling Ducks. Concentrations of Wood Ducks were 250 at Jug Bay on Aug. 12 (Kearns), 45 on the Patuxent River in Howard County on Sept. 14 (Sheppard), 20 at Denton on Sept. 26 (Hewitt), 24 at North Branch on Oct. 13 (Simons) and 200 at PNAS on Oct. 26 (Bryan). Late Wood Ducks inland were 2 at Pinto on Nov. 7 (Simons) and a drake at Piney Run on Nov. 15 (Blom, Ricciardi, Ringler). Early Green-winged Teal were 6 at Hurlock on Aug. 23 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 3 at Piney Run on Aug. 30 (Ringler) and 6 at Remington Farms on Sept. 2 (J. Gruber). Flocks of Green-wings later in the fall were 200 at Cove Point on Oct. 25 (Stasz), 1000 at Jug Bay on Nov. 4 (Kearns), 600 at Hart -Miller on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ), 280 at Blackwater on Nov. 27 (Czaplak) and 200 at Easton on Nov. 29 (Reese). The only concentrations of American Black Ducks reported were 300 at Jug Bay on Nov. 4 (Kearns) and 800 at Loch Raven on Nov. 17 (Simon). Similarly for Mallards were 500 at Masonville on Aug. 23 (Blom), 240 at Havre de Grace on Sept. 28 (Blom) and 410 on Loch Raven on Nov. 17 (Simon). The first reports of Northern Pintail were 1 at Hurlock on Aug. 23 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 2 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 31 (Ringler + ), 17 at Remington Farms on Sept. 2 (J. Gruber), 4 at West Ocean City on Sept. 12 (Czaplak) and 1 at Piney Run on Sept. 13 (Ringler) while later flocks were 410 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 11 (Blom), 400 at Jug Bay on Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 (Kearns) and 140 at Blackwater on Nov. 27 (Czaplak). Modest numbers of Blue-winged Teal were reported, with 30 at Jug Bay on Aug. 12 (Kearns), 30 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 7 (Ricciardi), 30 in DC on Sept. 8 (Czaplak), 150 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 28 (Kaestner + ) and 18 at Loch Raven on Oct. 10 (Simon, Jenkins). Northern Shoyelers began with 5 at Hurlock on Aug. 23 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 2 in Carroll County at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 30 (Ringler) and 26 at Remington Farms on Sept. 2 (J. Gruber) with the largest group of the season being 175 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 11 (Blom) and Nov. 16 (Ringler + ). The 6 Gadwalls seen at Blackwater on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead) probably represent some post-breeding dispersal as they do not nest on parts of the refuge where they are likely to be seen. Early American Wigeons were 4 at Remington Farms on Sept. 2 (J. Gruber), 3 at West Ocean City on Sept. 12 (Czaplak) and 1 at Piney Run on Sept. 13 (Ringler); later birds were 36 at Piney Run on Nov. 6 (Wright) and 100 at Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler). Diving Ducks. In DC a summering Canvasback was seen on Aug. 24; 28 there on Nov. 1 (Czaplak) were migrants. Meager high counts were 200 at Hart - Miller on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ) and 180 at Cambridge on Nov. 27 (Czaplak). Redheads remain, scarce with 2 at Unity on Nov. 1 (Ringler), 4 at Hart -Miller on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), 13 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 12 (Skipper), 6 at Piney Run on Nov. 15 (Ringler) and 6 at Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler). A surprising 5 summering Ring-necked Ducks were seen in DC on Aug. 24 which had increased to 175 on Nov. 1 (Czaplak). A single Ring-neck at Chestertown on Sept. 21 (Ringler, Ricciardi) may have been a migrant; others were 12 at Loch Raven on Oct. 7 16 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 increasing to 100 on Nov. 20 (Simon), 8 at Hurlock and 7 at Easton on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ), 28 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 8 (Simons), 300 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 12 (Skipper) and 8 at Denton on Nov. 17 (Hewitt). A summering Great Scaup remained at Hart - Miller through Sept. 14 (Ringler + ), but other reports were few with 1 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 27 (Ringler), 3 in DC on Oct. 13 (Czaplak) and 1 at Piney Run on Oct. 23 and 4 there on the 28th (Wright). Also summering at Hart - Miller were 4 Lesser Scaup seen through Aug. 31 (Ringler + ) while others were 1 at Chestertown on Sept. 21 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 2 on Fairlee Creek on Oct. 8 (J. Gruber) and 150 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 19 (Skipper). Both species of scaup mixed at Hart - Miller in increasing numbers until a maximum of 22,000 in the impoundments was estimated on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ) with Lessers being in the majority; an exact ratio of the two species was impossible to determine. A surprise at Sandy Point was the presence of 9 King Eiders (2 immature males and 7 females) on Nov. 22-24 (Wierenga + ). An adult male Harlequin Duck was reported at Crisfield on Nov. 29 (John Bjerke, Ginger Boyce). A very early Oldsquaw was at Eastern Neck on Sept. 28 (J. Gruber) and other moderately early individuals were on the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (H. Armistead + ) and at Hart - Miller on Oct. 19 (Ringler + ). Inland Oldsquaws were 1 at Loch Raven on Oct. 30 and 2 there on Nov. 12 (Simon), 1 at Piney Run on Nov. 8 (Ringler), 2 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 11 (Simons) and 28 in DC on Nov. 12 (Czaplak). Best reports of Oldsquaws were 50 at Sandy Point on Oct. 25 (Czaplak), 3000 off Swan Point on Nov. 5 (Gruber) and 150 near Bellevue on Nov. 16 (H. Armistead + ). The only reports of Black Scoters were 45 at Eastern Neck on Oct. 17 (J. Gruber), 4 off Hills Point Neck, Dorchester County on Oct. 26 (Czaplak), 3 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper), a female at Herrington Manor on Nov. 15 (Thayer) and 1 at Hart - Miller on Nov. 16 (Blom + ). The only reports of Surf Scoters were 23 on the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (H. Armistead + ), 35 at Eastern Neck on Oct. 17 (J. Gruber), 50 at Cove Point on Oct. 25 (Stasz), 1 off Hills Point Neck on Oct. 26 (Czaplak) and a female on the Potomac in DC on Nov. 5 (Czaplak). White-winged Scoters were only slightly more widespread, with 3 at Eastern Neck on Sept. 28 and 115 on Oct. 17 (J. Gruber), 30 near Bellevue on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ), 20 on the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (H. Armistead + ), 1 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 19 (Ricciardi + ), 60 off Hills Point Neck on Oct. 26 (Czaplak), 8 at PNAS on Nov. 2 (Bryan) and 5 in DC on Nov. 5 (Czaplak). After an early Common Goldeneye appeared at Hart - Miller on Oct. 19 there were 80 on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ), while others were 18 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper), 6 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 6 (Simons), 20 on Loch Raven on Nov. 12 (Simon) and a whopping 4000 off Swan Point on Nov. 12 (J. Gruber). Buffleheads are always well-reported and this year there were 4 in DC on Oct. 30 (Czaplak), 110 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper), 19 at Piney Run on Nov. 6 (Wright), 46 on the Mountain Lake sewage lagoons on Nov. 8 (Skipper), 11 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 8 (Simons), 20 on Georgetown Reservoir on Nov. 9 (Howard Elitzak), 56 on Loch Raven on Nov. 12 (Simon), 21 at Herrington Manor on Nov. 15 (Thayer), 60 at Hart - Miller on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ) and 500 near Bellevue on Nov. 16 (H. Armistead + ). High counts of Hooded Mergansers were 19 at Piney Run on Nov. 1 (Ringler) and 60 at Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler). The first Common Merganser reported was at Rocky Gap on Nov. 6 (Simons) while flocks of 100 were at Cambridge on Nov. 27 (Czaplak) and 50 off Downs Memorial Park on Nov. 29 (Resch). A summering Red-breasted Merganser remained at Hart - Miller through Sept. 28 and 20 were there on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ). Also at Hart - Miller, Ruddy Ducks increased from 2 summering birds through Sept. 21 to 90 on Sept. 28 and March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 17 3000 on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ). At Easton 3 summering Ruddies on Aug. 23 had increased to 10 on Sept. 27 (Ringler, Ricciardi). Other Ruddies of note were 5 at Tolchester on Oct. 8 (J. Gruber), 42 at Piney Run on Oct. 23 (Wright), 320 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper). 26 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 7 (Simons), 100 at Denton on Nov. 17 (Hewitt), 2500 at Brandon Shores on Nov. 22 (Ringler, Ricciardi) and 500 at Easton on Nov. 29 (Reese). Vultures, Ospreys, Bald Eagles. Results of the hawk watch at Monument Knob are presented in Table 2. Few Black Vultures were mentioned in reports, but 15 were at Charlotte Hall on Sept. 19 (Wilson) and 15 at Tanyard on Nov. 28 (E. Engle). Turkey Vulture reports were of 40 near Henryton on Sept. 27 (Solems), 17 migrating over Assateague on Oct. 5 (Wierenga + ), 65 at Spring Gap on Oct. 11 (Paulus), and 21 at Fort Smallwood on Oct. 15 (Wierenga); the latest for Garrett County were 2 over Bray Hill on Nov. 6 (Skipper). The counts of migrant Ospreys were 23 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers) and 22 over Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). Very late Ospreys were single birds at Loch Raven on Nov. 12 (Simon), Conowingo on Nov. 26 (Blom), west of Ocean City on Nov. 27 (Margaret Hawk, Marge Habdey) and nearby at Ocean Pines on Nov. 28 (M. O’Brien + ). An adult and an immature Bald Eagle were seen at Triadelphia at various times during the period Aug. 16 through Sept. 24 (Mudd + ), an immature at Tilghman on Oct. 19 (Reese), 14 at Conowingo on Nov. 20 (Schutsky), 2 adults at Loch Raven on Nov. 30 (Kaestner, Beehler) and an immature at Gunpowder SP on Nov. 30 (Resch). Table 2. Hawk Migration at Monument Knob, Washington Monument State Park, Fall 1986 Species Total First Last Big Days Osprey 128 8/15 10/20 26 on 10/5, 17 on 10/1, 14 on 9/30 Bald Eagle 2 9/1 10/5 Northern Harrier 76 8/19 11/27 13 on 10/11, 6 on 9/30, 5 on 9/14 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1082 8/12 11/23 203 on 10/5, 107 on 10/6, 102 on 10/11 Cooper’s Hawk 71 8/30 11/29 14 on 10/5, 9 on 10/11, 5 on 9/30 Northern Goshawk 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 100 8/25 12/1 35 on 10/11, 11 on 11/4, 9 on 11/3 Broad-winged Hawk 982 8/11 10/11 220 on 9/14, 194 on 9/19, 133 on 9/23 Red-tailed Hawk 1069 8/11 12/7 184 on 11/4, 115 on 10/28, 106 on 11/12 Rough-legged Hawk 1 10/31 Golden Eagle 5 11/6 12/1 2 on 11/10, also Ion 11/17 American Kestrel 57 8/11 10/30 21 on 10/5, 8 on 9/6, 5 on 9/27 Merlin 5 9/30 12/1 also Ion 10/28,11/17,11/29 Peregrine Falcon 3 9/23 9/30 also 1 on 9/27 Unidentified 173 Total 3754 8/11 12/13 333 on 10/5, 253 on 9/14, 220 on 9/19, 212 on 1 0/1 Data supplied by Sam Shoemaker from many observers from 364.5 hours of observation on 92 days. Harriers and Accipiters . Early migrant Northern Harriers were single birds at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 30 (Ringler + ) and near Oakland on Sept. 8 (Skipper). An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk in DC on Aug. 29 (Czaplak) was a very early migrant while other reports of migrants were 6 over Schooley Mill Park in Howard County on Sept. 14 (Chestem), 8 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 and 15 there on Sept. 18 (Reese), 15 at Rock Hall on Sept. 26, 12 there on Oct. 2 and an impressive 566 on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 54 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga), 50 over Kent Island on Oct. 4 (Nistico), 54 near Bellevue on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ), 144 at Fort Smallwood on Oct. 15 (Wierenga) and 9 at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (Davidson). A 18 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 dead Cooper’s Hawk was brought to Jan Reese from Oxford on Aug. 25. It was a hatching-year bird and may have come from a local nest or have been a very early migrant. The best migrant tally for Cooper’s Hawks was by the Grubers on the Oct. 3 big day at Rock Hall with 24 birds. Buteos and Golden Eagles. Reese noted 4 migrant Red-shouldered Hawks on Oct. 19 at Tilghman Island where they are not often seen. The big migration days for Broad-winged Hawks were Sept. 13-14 (typical) and Oct. 3 (rather late for large numbers). Reports came in as follows: 40 over Green Ridge on Sept. 13 (Simons + ), 50 over Columbia on Sept. 13 (Jon K. Boone), 3000 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese), 200 over the Patapsco River in Howard County on Sept. 14 (Sheppard), 100 over Ellicott City on Sept. 14 (Bogdan), 300 over Kent Island on Sept. 14 (Czaplak), 81 at Conowingo on Sept. 28 (Blom), at least 8 over Columbia on Oct. 1 (Geuders) and 100 there on Oct. 2 (Farrell), 40 at Rock Hall on Oct. 2 and 4594 there on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 20 at Kent Island on Oct. 4 (Nistico), 4 near Bellevue on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead +) and a very late 1 near Columbia on Nov. 19 (Farrell). Wierenga turned in the best counts of Red-tailed Hawks with 20 at Fort Smallwood on Oct. 15 and 49 at Sandy Point on Nov. 22. Reports of Rough-legged Hawks were 1 at Dan’s Rock on Oct. 19 (Kiddy), 1 at Greensboro on Oct. 28 (Hewitt), 1 light-phase bird at Irish Grove on Nov. 1 (Stasz, Ricciardi + ); 1 at Denton on Nov. 13 (Short), a dark- phase bird in DC on Nov. 16 (Czaplak), a dark-phase bird at Little Monie Creek on Nov. 24 (Dyke), 1 light and 1 dark at Deal Island WMA on Nov. 28 (Czaplak), 1 at Bestpitch on Nov. 30 (Davidson) and 1 in southern Frederick County on Nov. 30 (Barry Cooper). The only reports of Golden Eagles were an immature at Mt. Nebo on Oct. 20 (Thayer) and an immature at Blackwater from Nov. 27 (Czaplak + ). Falcons. Armistead noted 5 American Kestrels near Blackwater on Aug. 14 as wintering birds began arriving there. The McClures saw 10-12 kestrels circling near Columbia on Sept. 25 and on the big day of Oct. 3 Blom and Wierenga estimated 150 at Tower Gardens and the Grubers counted 77 at Rock Hall. Reports of Merlins were above average in number this fall beginning with 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Davidson) followed by 2 near Delmar on Sept. 13 (Dyke), 12 at Assateague on Sept. 14 and 14 there on Oct. 5 (Blom + ), and 1 there on Nov. 28 (M. O’Brien + ), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 28 and 1 on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ), 1 at Laurel Grove on Sept. 29 (Runkles), 2 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga), 5 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 2 near Deal Island WMA on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ), 1 over the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (H. Armistead + ), 1 over the Potomac at Block- house Point on Nov. 16 (Mark Garland) and 1 in DC on Nov. 24 (Czaplak). It was a spectacular year for migrating Peregrine Falcons along the coast. For the seventeenth consecutive year Scott Ward and his group of banders monitored the Peregrine migration from their stations straddling the state line on Assateague Island. Their tally for the season was 856 Peregrines seen including 231 captured! Of the captures 18 had been previously banded, including 1 from Greenland. The station was operating from Sept. 19 through Oct. 24 but the best day ever was Oct. 4 when 117 Peregrines were sighted and 22 captured. Other big days for Peregrine sightings were 81 on Oct. 2, 71 on Oct. 3, 53 on Oct. 9, 51 on Oct. 1, 37 on Oct. 10, 34 on Oct. 8, 32 on Oct. 14, and 31 on Oct. 6. Other sightings of Peregrines were 1 near Oakland on Sept. 30 (Pope), 2 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 1 in DC on Oct. 8 (Czaplak), 1 at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (Davidson, P. O’Brien), 1 at Waterford Farm in Howard County on Oct. 30 (Wallace), another in Howard County near the intersection of 1-95 and Rt. 32 regularly in late October and early November (Jon E. Boone) and 1 at Tanyard on Nov. 20 (W. Engle). Turkey, Rails. Connie Skipper saw a hen Wild Turkey with 7 young on Bray Hill in Garrett County, Aug. 17-27. Erika Wilson found a King Rail at Point Lookout on March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 19 Sept. 19. Greg Kearns heard the first 3 migrant Soras at Jug Bay on Aug. 12 and John Bjerke estimated 50 there on Sept. 13. A small downy young Common Moorhen was at Sparrows Point on Aug. 10 (Ringler) while fall reports were 5 at Deal Island WMA on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead), 3 at Tanyard on Aug. 24 (E. Engle) and 1 at Hart - Miller on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ). An early American Coot was at Hart - Miller on Sept. 7 and 80 there on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ). Others were 1 at Havre de Grace on Sept. 28 (Blom), 2 in DC on Oct. 5 and 210 there on Nov. 23 (Czaplak), 25 at Rocky Gap on Nov. 5 (Simons), 450 on Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper), 77 at Piney Run on Nov. 8 (Ringler), 501 at Loch Raven on Nov. 12 (Simon), and 30 at Jug Bay on Nov. 16 (Mumford, Beaton). Plovers , Avocets. Black-bellied Plovers were found in all parts of the state. At Hart - Miller, birds were seen regularly from the first 2 on Aug. 3 to the last 1 on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ). In Dorchester County there were 10 at Hooper Island on Aug. 14 (Armistead), and at Blackwater, 1 on Aug. 27 (M. O’Brien) and 6 on Nov. 9 (Armistead + ). At North Branch there was 1 on Sept. 4 followed by 3 on Oct. 5 (Kiddy) and 1 more on Oct. 10-17 (Simons). Davidson found 2 Black-bellies at Summit Hall Turf Farm on Sept. 7. The high count at Ocean City was 70 on Sept. 12 (Czaplak). Others were 2 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga) with 1 there on Oct. 12 (Ricciardi), 2 in DC on Oct. 24 (Czaplak) and 2 in Talbot County on Nov. 9 (Reese). Lesser Golden-Plovers were also widespread beginning with 3 at Jug Bay on Aug. 20 (Stasz), 12 at Summit Hall Turf Farm on Aug. 30 (Mary Rosen) and 17 there on Sept. 1 (Czaplak) and 15 on Sept. 7 (Davidson), 6 at Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Davidson, M. O’Brien, Pisano), 8 north of Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Hayes), 1 at Conowingo on Sept. 20 (Ringler, Blom), 1 at Liberty Reservoir on Sept. 20-28 and 2 there on Oct. 4 (Ringler), at least 1 at Tower Gardens from Sept. 20 through Oct. 3 and 2 there on Sept. 21 (Ricciardi + ), 1 at Piney Run on Sept. 28 (Ringler + ), 1 at Masonville on Oct. 4 (Ringler + ), 6 in DC on Oct. 12 and 3 remaining on Oct. 14 (Czaplak) and 1 at Fort Smallwood on Oct. 18 (Wierenga). Inland reports of Semi- palmated Plovers were 2 at Triadelphia on Aug. 15 and 1 through Aug. 30 (J. Solem + ) and 9 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 17 (Ringler). Other high counts of Semi Plovers were 48 at Blackwater on Aug. 17 (Davidson, M. O’Brien, Pisano), 20 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 24 and Sept. 28 and the last 1 there on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), 15 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga) and the last 2 there on Oct. 26 (Ricciardi). The only reports of Piping Plovers were 2 on Assateague on Aug. 23 (Davidson) and 1 at Triadelphia on Aug. 27 (Wallace), the latter only the second inland record for the state. High counts of Killdeer were 114 at Liberty Reservoir on Oct. 25 (Ringler) and 200 at Jug Bay on Nov. 28 (Mumford, Beaton). American Avocets numbered 2 at Ocean City on Aug. 18 (Swift) and 1 at Jug Bay on Oct. 30 (Mumford), a first for that location. Sandpipers. High local counts of Greater Yellowlegs were 30 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), 50 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga), 13 at North Branch on Oct. 17 (Simons) and 16 at PWRC on Oct. 17 {Osenton). High counts of Lesser Yellowlegs were 60 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), 200 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 7-20 (Ricciardi), 55 at Liberty Reservoir on Sept. 11 (J. O’Brien) and 68 at Blackwater on Sept. 13 (M. O’Brien). There were 22 Solitary Sandpipers at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 2 (Ringler), 7 at PWRC on Aug. 5-7 (Osenton), 5 at Triadelphia on Aug. 15 (J. Solem, Chestem) and a very late bird at Hughes Hollow on Oct. 19 (Bonham). Migrant Willets were noted at Hart -Miller from Aug. 10 through Sept. 28 with 4 on Aug. 17 (Ringler + ) and 1 at Tower Gardens on Aug. 27 (M. O’Brien, Gough); a late bird was at Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ). High counts of Spotted Sandpipers were 30 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 3 (Ringler + ) and 16 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 9 and 17 (Ringler); late birds were 2 at Triadelphia on 20 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol.43.No.l Oct. 5 (J. Solem, Farrell, Mudd) and 1 at North Branch on Oct. 17 (Simons). The only reports of Upland Sandpipers were 3 at Ruthsburg on Aug. 23 (Rittenhouse), 9 south of Queen Anne in Talbot County on Aug. 15-16 (M. O’Brien) and 1 north of Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Hayes). The only reports of Whimbrels were single birds at Hart - Miller on Sept. 14 (Kaestner), Assateague on Sept. 14 (Czaplak + ) and Sept. 16 (J. O’Brien, M. O’Brien) and at Ocean City on Oct. 4 (Blom). It was a good season for Hudsonian Godwits, beginning with birds at Blackwater, 1 on Aug. 30 (Pisano), 6 on Sept. 5 (Blom + ) and the last 1 on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead + ). At Tower Gardens there were 5 on Sept. 5-21 down to 3 on Sept. 27 and 2 remaining on Nov. 2 (Ricciardi + ). At Hart - Miller there were 4 on Sept. 7, 1 on Sept. 28 and 2 on Oct. 19 (Ringler + ). There was 1 Hudsonian Godwit at Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and finally 2 at Tanyard from Oct. 22 through Nov. 4 (E. Engle + ), a first for Caroline County. Marbled Godwits were scarce by comparison with 1 at Hart - Miller from Aug. 3 through Sept. 21 (Ringler + ) and 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Davidson, Hayes). Reports of Ruddy Turnstones away from Ocean City were birds at Hart - Miller from Aug. 3 through Nov. 16 with 25 there on Oct. 19 (Ringler + ), 2 in DC on Sept. 10 (Czaplak), 1 at Conowingo on Sept. 20 (Ringler, Blom), 1 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 12 and 26 (Ricciardi) and 1 at Rock Hall on Oct. 21 (J. Gruber). Reports of Red Knots were birds at Hart -Miller from July 27 through Oct. 19 with 5 on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), 2 at Tower Gardens from Sept. 20 through Oct. 18 and 3 there on Oct. 26 and 1 on Nov. 2 (Ricciardi + > Sanderlings away from Ocean City were 1 at PNAS on Aug. 20 (Rambo, Bryan), 1 at Triadelphia on Aug. 30 (H. Mudd, J. Solem + ), 1 at Loch Raven on Sept. 18 (Simon), 1 at Liberty Reservoir on Sept. 25 (Wright), 2 at Tanyard on Sept. 28 (E. Engle), 1 in DC on Oct. 7 (Czaplak), 85 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 11 with the last 4 on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ) and 1 at Cove Point on Oct. 25 (Stasz). High counts of Semipal- mated Sandpipers plus some late birds were 20 at Remington Farms on Aug. 14 (J. Gruber), 600 at Blackwater on Aug. 15 (M. O’Brien), 8 at Triadelphia on Aug. 15 (J. Solem, Chestem), 20 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 17 (Ringler), 250 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 24 and the last 2 there on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ), 100 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 7-20 and the last 2 there on Oct. 26 (Ricciardi), 2 on Oct. 5 (Kiddy) and 1 on Oct. 17 (Simons) at North Branch, and 1 at Triadelphia on Oct. 12 (Mudds). Reports of Western Sandpipers included 1 at PNAS on Aug. 20 (Rambo, Bryan), 4 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 30 (Ringler), 50 at Blackwater on Sept. 6 (Davidson, Hayes) and Sept. 13 (M. O’Brien), 50 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 7 and 21 and the last 1 there on Nov. 9 (Ringler + ), 1 at North Branch on Sept. 12-13 (Ringler + ) and 1 there on Oct. 20 (Simons), 12 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 27 (Ricciardi, Ringler), 1 at Conowingo on Sept. 30 (Blom), 40 at Back River on Oct. 5 (Ringler) and a very late 3 at Jug Bay on Nov. 28 (Mumford, Beaton). High counts of Least Sandpipers were 32 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 9 (Ringler) and 150 at Blackwater on Aug. 15 (M. O’Brien); late singles were at Tower Gardens on Oct. 18 (Ringler, Ricciardi) and Deep Creek Lake on Nov. 6 (Skipper). White-rumped Sandpipers were more wide ] y reported than usual with 4 at Ringgold Point in Kent County on Aug. 4 (J. Gruber;, 1 at Blackwater on Aug. 17 and 37 there Sept. 13 (M. O’Brien + ) and the last 2 on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien), birds at Hart - Miller from Aug. 31 through Nov. 16 with 30 on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), 1 at Hampstead on Sept. 3-4 (Wright), 1 at Loch Raven on Sept. 7 (Resch), 3 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 7 with 5 on Oct. 18 (Ricciardi, Ringler), 1 at Piney Run and 1 at Liberty Reservoir on Sept. 13 (Ringler), 1 at Triadelphia on Sept. 13-14 (Farrell, J. Solem + ) and another there on Oct. 12 (Mudds) and 25 at Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ). It was a banner year for Baird’s Sandpipers with 1 at Back River on Aug. 30-31 (Resch + ), 2 at Liberty Reservoir from Aug. 30 through Oct. 2 and 5 there on Sept. 20 (Ringler + ), 2 at Summit Hall Turf Farm on Sept. 6 (P. O’Brien, Gail Mackiernan) and 1 there the next day (Davidson), 2 at March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 21 North Branch on Sept. 12-13 (Ringler + ) and 3 there on Sept. 28 (Kiddy) and Oct. 20 (Simons), 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 12 (Davidson + ) and 2 there on Sept. 27 (Ringler, Ricciardi) and the last 1 there on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien), birds at Hart - Mil- ler from Sept. 14 through Nov. 9 with 7 on Oct. 5 (Ringler + ) and 1 at West Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and Oct. 21 (Bonham). High counts of Pectoral Sandpipers plus some late birds were 78 at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 9 (Ringler), 11 at PWRC on Aug. 15 (Osenton), 75 at Blackwater on Oct. 3 (Davidson + ), 30 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 3 (Blom, Wierenga) and Oct. 18 (Ricciardi, Ringler) and the last 1 there on Nov. 9 (Ricciardi), 30 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 19 with the last 1 there on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ), 2 at Loch Raven on Nov. 1 (Resch) and 1 at Triadelphia on Nov. 2 (J. Solem, Farrell). The only Purple Sand- piper reported away from Ocean City was 1 at Sandy Point on Oct. 31 (Harold Wierenga). Reports of Dunlin, including early migrants, high counts and late birds, were 2 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 21 and 325 there on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 27 (Ringler, Ricciardi) and 440 there on Oct. 25 (Czaplak), 10 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 5-12 and 55 there on Nov. 9 (Ricciardi + ), 2 at Triadelphia on Oct. 12 (Mudds), 1 at Havre de Grace on Oct. 25 (Kirkwood), 32 at Tanyard on Oct. 31 and 5 there on Nov. 3 (E. Engle), 1 at Piney Run on Oct. 17 (Wright) and 2 there on Nov. 1 (Ringler), 1 at Triadelphia on Nov. 2-9 (J. Solem, Farrell) and 10 at Jug Bay on Nov. 28 (Mumford, Beaton). Stilt Sandpiper reports included birds at Tower Gardens from July 26 through Oct. 26 with 20 on Oct. 3 (Ricciardi + ), 1 at Leading Point in Baltimore on Aug. 3 (Wilkinson), 3 at Deal Island WMA on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead), 22 at Blackwater on Aug. 17 (Davidson, M. O’Brien, Pisano) and the last 2 there on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ), 8 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), and 10 at Liberty Reservoir on Sept. 20, 14 there on Sept. 28 and 12 on Oct. 4 (Ringler). The only Buff-breasted Sandpipers reported were single birds near Point Lookout on Sept. 20-21 (J. O’Brien + ) and Blackwater on Sept. 24 (Claudia Wilds). The only Ruff of the season was seen at Blackwater on Sept. 27 (Bonham) and Oct. 3 (Davidson + ). Short-billed Dowitchers numbered 122 at Blackwater on Aug. 17 (Davidson, M. O’Brien, Pisano) down to 50 on Sept. 5 (Blom + ) and 1 on Oct. 13 (M. O’Brien), while others were 1 at Remington Farms on Aug. 25 (J. Gruber), 1 at Triadelphia from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 (Mudd + ), 2 at Tower Gardens on Sept. 20 (Czaplak), the last 1 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 28 (Kaestner + ) and 1 at Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ). Long-billed Dowitchers made a surprisingly early appearance in numbers at Blackwater beginning with 1 on Aug. 15 (M. O’Brien), peaking at 85 on Sept. 6 (Davidson + ) with 32 remaining on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien). The only other Long-bills reported were 1 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 5 (Kaestner + ), the first for there, and 1 in DC on Oct. 12 (Czaplak). Early Common Snipe were 1 at Halethorpe in Baltimore County on Aug. 15 (Blom), 2 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 31 (Ringler + ), 12 at Remington Farms on Sept. 2 (J. Gruber) and 1 in DC on Sept. 7 (Czaplak); the high count was 30 at Tanyard on Oct. 22-24 (E. Engle) and a late bird in western Maryland was 1 at North Branch on Nov. 11 (Simons). The only Wilson’s Phalaropes of the season were 3 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 14; 1 remained on Oct. 11 (Blom + ). A Red-necked Phalarope was seen at Blackwater on Aug. 30 (Pisano) and Sept. 1 (Cole Burrell) while 3 were at Hart - Miller on Aug. 31 and 1 on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ). Gulls. High counts of Laughing Gulls were 1000 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 (Ringler + ), 165 in DC on Aug. 21 (Czaplak), 5000 at Ocean City on Sept. 5 (Blom + ) and 1000 at Jug Bay on Nov. 16 (Mumford, Beaton). Unusual inland were 1 juvenile Laughing Gull at Triadelphia on Sept. 1 (Ringler) and 4 at Conowingo on Sept. 20 and 2 there on Nov. 6 (Blom). An adult Franklin’s Gull was also at Conowingo on 22 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol.43, No: 1 Sept. 20 (Blom +) and Sept. 27 (Davidson). A summering Bonaparte’s Gull remained at Hart - Miller through Aug. 31 (Ringler + ). Early migrants were 1 at Eastern Neck on Sept. 28 (J. Gruber) and, in DC, 1 on Oct. 8 and 19 on Nov. 3 (Czaplak). Other interesting reports of Bonaparte’s Gulls were 35 at Swan Point on Nov. 5 (J. Gruber), 1 at Loch Raven on Nov. 23 (Kaestner + ) an'd 30 at Seneca on Nov. 24 (Warfield). High counts of Ring-billed Gulls were 700 in DC on Aug. 22 (Czaplak), 2000 at Hart - Miller on Oct. 5 (Ringler + ) and 200 at Triadelphia on Nov. 19 (Wallace). In western Maryland there was 1 Ring-bill at Rocky Gap on Oct. 26 (Simons) and 13 at the Mountain Lake sewage lagoons on Nov. 8 (Skipper). Wallace also estimated 1500 Herring Gulls at Triadelphia on Nov. 19. Lesser Black- backed Gulls were seen mostly in familiar locations. The first was Hart - Miller on Sept. 7, 2 were there on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), followed by a second-winter plumaged bird at Ocean City on Sept. 12 (Blom, Wierenga) and 2 on Oct. 4 (Blom), 1 in the middle of the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (Armisteads, Carl Sheppard), 1 adult at Easton on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ), 1 adult in DC for the seventh consecutive winter on Oct. 14 (Czaplak) through at least Nov. 15 (Peter Yankevich), an adult at Fort McHenry for the ninth consecutive winter on Nov. 4 (Ringler), and at Conowingo 2 first-winter birds on Nov. 6, 3 (a first-winter, a second-winter, and a third-winter) on Nov. 11 and a first-winter on Nov. 14 (Blom). The high for Great Black-backed Gulls at Hart - Miller was 350 on Aug. 10 (Ringler + ) and in St. Marys County 90 on Oct. 16 (Wilson); the first at Conowingo appeared on Aug. 21 (Blom). Terns , Skimmers . High counts of Caspian Terns were 16 at Conowingo on Aug. 14 and 15 there on Sept. 30 (Blom), 10 at Hooper Island on Aug. 24 (H. Armistead + ), 2 at Lake Kittamaqundi on Sept. 7 (Farrell, J. Solem), 76 in DC on Sept. 16 (Czaplak), 350 at Hart - Miller on Sept. 21 and the last 2 there on Oct. 19 (Ringler + ), 125 at Havre de Grace on Sept. 28 (Blom) and the last 1 there on Oct. 25 (Kirkwood), 2 at Elliott on Nov. 9 (Armistead + ) and a remarkable 20 at Swan Point on the late date of Nov. 12 (J. Gruber). Royal Terns were found throughout the bay region in addition to the coast. There were 2 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 and 8 there on Sept. 7 and the last 1 there on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ), 135 at Hooper Island and 45 at Elliott on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead), 5 near Bellevue on Aug. 23 and 20 there on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ), 2 at Blackwater on Aug. 27 (M. O’Brien, Gough), 45 at Swan Point on Sept. 1 (J. Gruber), 200 at Ocean City on Sept. 5 (Blom + ), where 3 remained on Nov. 28 (M. O’Brien + ), 17 at Eastern Neck on Sept. 21 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 1 adult at Conowingo on Sept. 30 (Blom), 85 in St. Marys County on Oct. 16 (Wilson), 4 at Cambridge on Oct. 26 (Czaplak), some at Point Lookout on Nov. 1 (George Jett), 20 at Hooper Island on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ), 1 at Sandy Point on Nov. 22 (Wierenga + ) and 1 at Deal Island WMA on Nov. 28 (Czaplak). The only Sandwich Tern of the season was at Assateague on Aug. 23 (Davidson, Rodney Bartgis). In Caroline County reports of Common Terns were 7 at Hog Island Wharf and 2 at Choptank on Aug. 3 (E. Engle) and 1 at Denton on Sept. 12 (Nuttle). Also unusual upriver were Common Terns in DC, with 1 on Aug. 18 and 3 on Sept. 2 (Czaplak). In the northern part of the bay the last Common Terns were 2 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 24 (Ringler + ). At Ocean City on Sept. 5 about 1000 were still present (Blom + ). In the lower part of the bay there were 132 Commons at North Beach on Sept. 12 and 315 there on Oct. 4 (Stasz), 50 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese), 264 in St. Marys County on Sept. 19 where 14 remained on Oct- 16 (Wilson), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 28 (Armistead), 3 in the Choptank River on Oct. 12 (Armistead + ) and birds still present at Point Lookout on Nov. 1 (George Jett). There were 700 Forster’s Terns at Hart - Miller on July 27 and the last 4 were seen on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ). Unusual inland were 2 Forster’s at Triadelphia on Aug. 2 (H. Mudd), March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 23 and at Jug Bay, 3 on Aug. 2, 10 on Sept. 11, Sept. 25 and Oct. 30 (Mumford, Ricciardi) and the last 1 on Nov. 21 {Mumford, Beaton), 7 at Denton on Sept. 11 (Hewitt), 6 at Tanyard oh Oct. 17 and 1 there on Oct. 22 (E. Engle), and 1 at Conowingo on Oct. 30 (Blom), Other Forster’s Terns of note were 30 on Monie Marsh on Aug. 10 (Dyke), 160 at Swan Point on Sept. 1 and 42 on Nov. 12 (J. Gruber), 100 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese), 49 in DC on Sept. 25 and 3 there on Nov. 17 (Czaplak), 420 at Havre de Grace on Sept. 28 (Blom) and 5 there on Oct. 25 (Kirkwood), 115 near Bellevue on Oct. 11 and 2 there on Nov. 16 (H. Armistead + ), 325 in St. Marys County on Oct- 16 (Wilson), 120 at Hooper Island on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ), 2 at Tower Gardens on Nov. 9 (Ricciardi), 105 at Black* water on Nov. 15 (H. Armistead + ) and 4 on Nov. 29 (Ringler + ), and 150 at Ocean City on Nov. 28 (M. O’Brien + ). The last Least Terns of the year were 27 at Rock Hall on Aug. 2 (J. Gruber), 4 at Blackwater on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead), 15 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 31 (Ringler + ) and 15 at Swan Point on Sept. 1 (J. Gruber). Charlie Swift spotted a Bridled Tern on the flats at Ocean City on Aug. 18, appro- priately the day after Hurricane Charlie passed. Reports of Black Terns included an impressive 9 at Triadelphia on Aug. 2 (H. Mudd), 1 at Love Point Light on Aug. 9 (J. Gruber), 6 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 and the last 3 there on Sept. 7 (Ringler + ), 2 at Hurlock on Aug. 23 (Ricciardi, Ringler), 1 at Piscataway on Aug. 24 (Nistico), 1 at North Beach on Aug. 26 (Stasz), 1 in DC on Aug. 28 (Czaplak), 1 at Ocean City on Sept. 5 (Blom + ), 1 at Denton on Sept. 15 (M. O'Brien, J. O’Brien) and 1 at Conowingo on Sept. 20 and 28 (Blom + ) which is an extremely late record. Black Skimmers numbered 15 at Hooper Island on Aug. 14 (H. Armistead) and 300 at Ocean City on Oct. 12 (Ringler + ). Doves, Cuckoos, Owls. There were 350 Mourning Doves at Pinto Marsh on Nov. 11 (Simons). The only Black-billed Cuckoo reported was on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ). The latest Yellow-billed Cuckoo was 1 at Calvert Cliffs on Oct. 25 (Stasz). There were two reports of Snowy Owls — 1 near Eklo in northwestern Balti- more County on Nov. 23 (Richard McLean) and 1 on Assateague on Nov. 29 (Terry Bashore). A Short-eared Owl stayed at Hart - Miller from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), 1 was at Deal Island WMA on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien), 3 at Elliott on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ), 2 on Monie Marsh on Nov. 18 (Dyke) and 4 or 5 at Bestpitch on Nov. 30 (Davidson). All reports of Northern Saw-whet Owls were banded birds, with singles at Damsite on Oct. 20, Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, at Adventure on Oct. 23 and at PWRC on Oct. 28. Goatsuckers, Swifts. Early migrant Common Nighthawks were 1 at Silver Spring on Aug. 12 (Mark Garland) and 1 at Remington Farms on Aug. 14 (J. Gruber); high counts were 17 at Rising Sun on Aug. 30 (Fogleman), 100-150 near Columbia on Labor Day weekend (Strikwerda), 80 in DC on Sept. 5 and 14 on Sept. 24 (Czaplak); and late birds were 1 near Oakland on Sept. 4 (Skipper), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 13 (H. Armistead) and 4 near Chestertown on Sept. 25 (J. Gruber). The only report of Chuck-wilFs-widow was 1 seen on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Blom +.) and the only Whip-poor-will was banded at Damsite on Oct. 7. High counts of Chimney Swifts were 2000 in northwest DC on Sept. 24 (Czaplak) and 80 at Seneca on Oct. 8 (Wilson). Hummingbirds, Kingfishers. There were 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird young in a nest near Bellevue on Aug. 23 (H. Armistead + ); high migrant counts were 12 at Back River on Aug. 31 (Resch + ), 15 in Talbot County on Aug. 31 (Reese) and 14 netted at Damsite on Sept. 13; there was a late bird there on Sept. 29, and others were singles near Oakland on Sept. 19 (Skipper) and 1 at Federalsburff on Oct. 4 (Glime). A Belted Kingfisher was at West Ocean City on Aug. 7 (Warfield). 24 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 Woodpeckers. Migrant Red-headed Woodpeckers included an immature on Hooper Island on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones), 1 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Czaplak + ) and 1 on Oct. 5 (Blom + ), and an immature in DC on Sept. 23 (Czaplak). An early Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese). High counts of migrating Northern Flickers were 85 at Remington Farms on Sept. 25 (J. Gruber), 65 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 35 in DC on Oct. 4 (Czaplak) and 200 on Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). Quite unexpected were 3 Pileated Wood- peckers on Hooper Island on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones), though they may be breeding on the island. Flycatchers. The only Olive-sided Flycatchers of the season were single birds at Loch Raven on Aug. 31 (Resch), Pennyfield on Sept. 1 (Bonham), in DC on Sept. 6 (Czaplak) and Summit Hall Turf Farm on Sept. 7 (Davidson). Reese found 15 migrant Eastern Wood-Pewees at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14. Yellow-bellied Fly- catchers included 19 banded at Adventure from Aug. 19 through Sept. 23, 1 in DC on Aug. 24 (Czaplak), 17 banded at Damsite from Aug. 24 through Sept. 29 with 7 on Sept. 7, birds banded at St. Timothy’s from Aug. 25 through Sept. 25, 1 banded at Laurel Grove on Aug. 29, 1 at Piney Dam Reservoir in Garrett County on Sept. 12 (Ringler) and 1 on Assateague on Sept. 14-15 (J. O’Brien + ). A very late Acadian Flycatcher was identified at Jug Bay on Oct. 16 (Mumford, Ricciardi). An Alder Flycatcher was banded at Laurel on Aug. 30 (Robbins) and 1 was seen on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ). A Least Flycatcher was near Blackwater on Aug. 15 (M. O’Brien) and 2 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ). Late Eastern Phoebes were 1 at Jug Bay on Nov. 27 (Mumford) and 1 at Seneca on Nov. 29 (Wilkinson). A Great Crested Flycatcher was on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Davidson + ). During the MOS Listers’ Trip 2 Western Kingbirds were seen together near Princess Anne on Oct. 13 (Ringler + ). The most migrant Eastern Kingbirds found were 15 at Easton on Aug. 23 (Ringler, Ricciardi); late birds included 1 in Charles County on Sept. 7 (Nistico), 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 14 (Wilkinson) and 3 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Czaplak). Swallows. Among the late Purple Martins were 1 in Charles County on Sept. 1 (Nistico), 5 in DC on Sept. 3 (Czaplak) and 1 in Calvert County on Sept. 8 (Stasz). High counts of Tree Swallows were 300 at Conowingo on Aug. 14 and 400 there on Aug. 29 (Blom), 400 at Remington Farms on Aug. 25 (J. Gruber), 40 in DC on Sept. 2 (Czaplak), 1000 at Greensboro on Sept. 22 (Engle), 100 near Bellevue on Sept. 27 and 300 there on Oct. 11 (H. Armistead + ), 2400 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 400 at Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ) and 100 in St. Marys County on Oct. 16 (Wilson). Late Tree Swallows were 2 at Deep Branch on Oct. 30 (R. Fletcher), several at Hart - Miller on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ), an incredible 1000 at Hooper Island on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ) and 2 on Assateague on Nov. 28 (M. O’Brien + ). The high count of Northern Rough-winged Swallows was 150 at Remington Farms on Aug. 25 (J. Gruber). Peak counts of Bank Swallows were 100 at Lilypons on Aug. 9 (Ringler), 600 at Hart - Miller on Aug. 10 (Ringler + ), 1000 at Conowingo on Aug. 14 (Blom), 95 at Millington WMA on Aug. 15 (H. Armistead), 350 at Remington Farms on Aug. 25 (J. Gruber) and 400 at Tower Gardens on Aug. 27 (M. O’Brien, Gough). Six at the Mountain Lake sewage lagoons on Sept. 12 (Ringler, Simons) were quite late for Garrett County. Late migrant Cliff Swallows were 3 at Greensboro on Sept. 1 (Fletchers), 1 in DC on Sept. 2 (Czaplak), 45 at Hampstead on Sept. 4 (Wright), 3 at Pinto and 1 at the Mountain Lake sewage lagoons on Sept. 12 (Ringler, Simons), 1 at West Ocean City on Sept. 12 (Czaplak), 1 at Blackwater on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones) and 2 at Sandy Point on Sept. 24 (Davidson). The high for Barn Swallows was 1500 at Conowingo on Aug. 14 (Blom); late birds were at Hughes Hollow on Oct. 1 (Bonham) and Hart - Miller on Nov. 2 (Ringler + ). March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 25 Corvids, Chickadees, Nuthatches. The peak flight of Blue Jays was in early October as noted by the Grubers who counted 470 at Rock Hall on Oct. 2 and 4324 there on Oct. 3. High counts of Fish Crows were 155 near Bellevue on Sept. 28 and 300 at North Hooper Island on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ). Pisano saw 2 Northern Ravens near Myersville on Oct. 25. No Black-capped Chickadees were reported outside the breeding range. There was a modest number of reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches with 1 banded at Damsite on Sept. 7, 1 at Ocean City on Sept. 13 (Wilkinson + ), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 13 (H. Armistead), 8 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien, Czaplak + ) and 4 in southern Dorchester County on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones) being the earliest. At a new location were 3 Brown-headed Nuthatches at Horsehead Farm Sanctuary in Queen Annes County on Oct. 18 (Ringler, Ricciardi). Creepers, Wrens. A Brown Creeper in Carroll County at Liberty Reservoir on Aug. 23 (Blom) may have been a rare local breeder, while others that may have been early fall migrants were 1 at Hughes Hollow on Sept. 17 (Bonham), 1 at Denton on Sept. 17 (Nuttle) and 1 at Jug Bay on Sept. 18 (Mumford, Ricciardi). A late House Wren was at Jug Bay on Nov. 28 (Mumford, Beaton). The first Winter Wren of the season was banded at St. Timothy’s on Sept. 25. On Aug. 14 a Sedge Wren was seen again at Liberty Reservoir in the dry part of the lake bed and on the same day 2 were at Elliott (H. Armistead); 1 was at Irish Grove on Nov. 1 (Stasz, Ricciardi + ). Late Marsh Wrens included 2 at Gum Swamp on Hooper Island on Nov. 15 (H. Armistead + ) and 2 heard at Hart - Miller on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ), all of these probably attempting to winter. Kinglets and Gnatcatchers. High counts of Golden-crowned Kinglets were 40 banded at Damsite on Oct. 7, 40 at Jug Bay on Oct. 16 (Mumford, Ricciardi) and 100 there on Nov. 16 and 28 (Mumford, Beaton), and 100 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 together with 100 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Reese). Late Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 13 (H. Armistead), 2 on Hooper Island on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones) 2 at Lock's Swamp Creek in St. Marys County on Sept. 19 (Wilson), 1 in Montgomery County on Sept. 22 (Bonham) and 8 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers); 1 at Sycamore Landing on Nov. 8 (Michael Bowen) and 1 at Conowingo on Nov. 20 (Schutsky) continue a pattern of this species appearing in November long after the normal migration period. Thrushes. Migrant flocks of Eastern Bluebirds were 20 flying over Tower Gardens on Sept. 21 (Ricciardi, Ringler), 80 at Remington Farms on Sept. 25 (J. Gruber), 1 on Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ), 25 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 and 50 in Talbot County on Nov. 9 (Reese) and 60 in southern Dorchester County on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ). Notable reports of Veery were 1 banded at Laurel and 1 at Laurel Grove on Aug. 24, 25 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ), 1 in DC on Oct. 4 (Czaplak) and other late birds banded at St. Timothy’s on Oct. 7, at Damsite on Oct. 11 and at Adventure on Oct. 15. As usual, few Gray-cheeked Thrushes were reported away from banding stations. There was 1 seen on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Blom + ), 36 banded at Adventure from Sept. 15 through Oct. 14 with 5 on Oct. 2, 1 at Pennyfield on Sept. 17 (Bonham), 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 20 (H. Armistead), birds banded at St. Timothy’s from Sept. 23 through Oct. 9, 1 at Daniels in Howard County on Sept. 25 (Wright), 1 at Greensboro on Sept. 26 (Hewitt), 3 banded at Damsite on Sept. 29 and 1 on Oct. 11, 1 banded near Oakland on Oct. 1, 2 in DC on Oct. 4 (Czaplak) and 1 at Denton on Oct. 10 (R. Fletcher). At Adventure 253 Swainson’s Thrushes were banded from Aug. 30 through Oct. 31 with 21 on Sept. 28. Other high counts of Swainson’s Thrushes were 35 near Bellevue on Sept. 20 (H. Armistead) and 90 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers). Other late 26 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 Swainson's Thrushes were 1 banded at St. Timothy’s on Oct. 21 and 1 at Jug Bay on Nov. 16 (Mumford, Beaton). An extraordinarily early Hermit Thrush was banded at Adventure on Aug. 30 and a moderately early 1 was banded near Oakland on Sept. 28. Late Wood Thrushes were 1 banded at Damsite on Oct. 11, 1 banded at Adventure on Oct. 11, and 2 seen in DC on Oct. 13 (Czaplak). High counts of American Robins were 200 near Chestertown on Aug. 25 (J. Gruber) and 800 at Denton on Nov. 21 (Knotts); the last robin seen in Garrett County was 1 on Nov. 11 (Skipper). Mimids, Pipits, Waxwings. The last Gray Catbird for the season in Garrett County was a banded bird recaptured on Oct. 17. There were 13 Brown Thrashers on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Czaplak) and a moderately late bird in Gunpowder SP on Nov. 30 (Resch). Flocks of Water Pipits that were reported were 60 at Liberty Reservoir on Oct. 25 (Ringler), 25 at North Branch on Oct. 26 (Simons) and 50 at Rising Sun on Nov. 27-30 (Fogleman). Flocks of Cedar Waxwings included 500 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 100 at North Branch on Nov. 2 (Simons) and 150 at Piney Run on Nov. 15 (Blom, Ricciardi, Ringler). Shrikes, Vireos. The only Loggerhead Shrikes found were 2 in southern Frederick County on Nov. 29 (Roger Anderson). The last 2 White-eyed Vireos were banded at Laurel on Oct. 5. A very early Solitary Vireo was at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ) and others were 3 banded at Damsite on Oct. 7, 2 on Green Ridge on Oct. 17 (Simons), 2 at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (P. O’Brien), 1 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 (Reese), 1 banded at Adventure on Oct. 27 and a very late individual seen in DC on Nov. 2 (Czaplak). Late Yellow-throated Vireos were in Montgomery County on Sept. 22 (Bonham) and at North Branch on Sept. 27 (Kiddy). A late Warbling Vireo was in Montgomery County on Sept. 17 (Bonham) and a later one in Howard County on Sept. 24 (Hill). Philadelphia Vireo reports were all single birds — at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ), at Loch Raven on Sept. 13 (Resch), on Assateague on Sept. 13-14 (J. O’Brien + ), banded at Mt. Nebo on Sept. 17, banded near Oakland on Sept. 18 and banded at St. Timothy’s on Sept. 20. The only high count of Red-eyed Vireos reported was 50 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ). Vermivora Warblers. Banded Blue-winged Warblers were 1 at Damsite on Aug. 11 and 2 there on Sept. 13, and an extremely late 1 at Adventure on Oct. 1. The only Golden-winged Warblers reported were single banded birds at Mt. Nebo on Aug. 25 and St. Timothy’s on Aug. 30. A male “Lawrence’s" Warbler hybrid was seen at Triadelphia on Sept. 6 (Ringler). High counts of Tennessee Warblers were 31 banded at Damsite on Sept. 7, 30 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ), 21 banded near Oakland on Sept. 18 and 8 in DC on Oct. 12 (Czaplak). An Orange- crowned Warbler was seen on Assateague on Oct. 4 Blom), Oct. 12 (Ringler + ) and Nov. 28 (Davidson + ). Early Nashville Warblers were banded at Adventure on Aug. 26 and Damsite on Sept. 2; 13 were banded for the season near Oakland from Sept. 13 to Oct. 10. Dendroica Warblers. Late Yellow Warblers included 1 banded near Oakland on Sept. 20, 1 at Woodmark Lake in Howard County on Sept. 25 (McClures) and 1 on Assateague on Oct. 4 (Blom). The high count of Chestnut-sided Warblers was 30 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ) and a late 1 was banded at St. Timothy’s on Oct. 7. A late Magnolia Warbler was seen on Green Ridge on Oct. 17 (Simons). Early Cape May Warblers were 1 at Tower Gardens on Aug. 23 (Ringler) and 2 banded at Damsite on Aug. 24; high counts were 18 along Green Ridge on Sept. 13 (Ringler), 30 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ) and 13 banded near Oakland March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 27 on Sept. 18; and a late 1 was at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (P. O’Brien. Late Black- throated Blue Warblers were 1 at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (P. O’Brien), 1 banded at St. Timothy's on Oct. 22, and 1 banded at Adventure on Oct. 28. Early Yellow- rumped Warblers were 1 banded at Damsite on Sept. 6 and 3 banded there on Sept. 20, 1 at Hooper Island on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones), 1 banded near Oakland on Sept. 17, 1 in Charles County on Sept. 18 (Nistico) and 1 at Jug Bay on Sept. 25 (Mumford); the high count was 200 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 (Reese). There were 2 early Black-throated Green Warblers in DC on Aug. 29 (Czaplak) and a late 1 at North Branch on Oct. 12 (Simons). The high for Blackburnian Warblers was 15 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ) and the latest was 1 in DC on Oct. 12 (Czaplak). A late Yellow-throated Warbler was in Montgomery County on Sept. 22 (Bonham) and a much later 1 appeared at a feeder in Urbana on Nov. 12-16 (Paul Fritz). Wilson found 7 Pine Warblers in St. Marys County on Sept. 19 and there was 1 at Jug Bay on Sept. 25 (Mumford), 1 in DC on Oct. 12 (Czaplak) and 1 at Point Lookout on Nov. 1 (Jett). A late Prairie Warbler was near Bellevue on Sept. 28 (H. Armistead). Early Palm Warblers appeared on Sept. 13 with 1 at North Branch (Simons, Ringler + }. 1 at Ocean City (J. O’Brien + ) and 1 banded near Oakland. Highs for Palm Warblers were 25 on Assateague on Sept. 14 and 40 on Oct. 5 (Blom + ); late birds were 2 at North Branch on Oct. 12 (Simons), 1 banded near Oakland on Oct. 17 and 1 banded at St. Timothy’s on Oct. 28. An early Bay-breasted Warbler was at Piscataway on Aug. 25 (Nistico) and the peak for the season was reached on Sept. 18 when 19 were banded near Oakland. Early and late Blackpoll Warblers were seen in DC on Sept. 6 and Oct. 20 (Czaplak) while 13 were banded near Oakland on Sept. 18. Other Warblers. The first migrant Black-and-white Warbler was banded at Damsite on Aug. 11 and the last on Oct. 12, the same day another late 1 was seen in DC (Czaplak). An early American Redstart was in DC on Aug. 9 (Czaplak); high counts were 100 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ), 30 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 and 50 on Sept. 15 (Reese) and 16 in St. Marys County on Sept. 19 (Wilson). Late Prothonotary Warblers were singles at Daniels on Sept. 12 (Wright) and Denton on Sept. 15 (Nuttle). A migrant Worm-eating Warbler was at Black- walnut Point on Aug. 24 (Reese). A late Ovenbird was banded at Adventure on Oct. 24. Late bandings of Northern Waterthrushes were near Oakland on Oct. 12 and at Adventure on Oct. 14. A very late Louisiana Waterthrush was reported in Mont- gomery County on Sept. 17 (Bonham). The following reports of Connecticut Warblers were received: 1 banded at Damsite on Sept. 6 and 1 on Sept. 7, 5 banded at Adventure from Sept. 8 through Oct. 3, 1 banded at St. Timothy’s on Sept. 9, 1 banded at Laurel on Sept. 13, 6 banded near Oakland from Sept. 14 through Oct. 3 and another seen there on Sept. 17 (Skipper), 1 banded at Laurel Grove on Sept. 15, 1 banded at Mt. Nebo on Sept. 18, 1 in the Liberty watershed near Finksburg on Sept. 28 (Ringler) and Oct. 2 (Wright), and 1 on Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). A very early Mourning Warbler was banded at Damsite on Aug. 8 and 1 there on Sept. 2, 2 on Sept. 6 and 1 on Sept. 14, 4 banded at Adventure from Aug. 30 through Sept. 15, birds banded at St. Timothy’s, Sept. 7-22, 1 banded at Mt. Nebo on Sept. 13, 1 on Assateague on Sept. 15 (J. O'Brien, M. O’Brien), 1 banded near Oakland on Sept. 17 and 1 on Sept. 20 plus another seen there on Sept. 26 (Skipper), 1 at Pennyfield on Sept. 29 (Bonham) and 1 on Assateague on Oct. 5 (Blom + ). Late Common Yellowthroats were 1 in DC on Nov. 2 (Czaplak), 2 at Jug Bay on Nov. 16 (Mumford, Beaton) and 1 at Piscataway Park on Nov. 23 (Nistico, Jett). A migrant Hooded Warbler was on Assateague on Sept. 14 (Czaplak) and 1 was banded near Oakland on Sept. 28. An early Wilson’s Warbler was banded at St. Timothy’s on Aug. 25 and the latest was 1 banded at Damsite on Oct. 7. Late 28 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 Yellow-breasted Chats were 1 near Bellevue on Sept. 13 and 20 (H. Armistead), and 4 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien + ). Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Buntings . A late Summer Tanager was in Montgomery County on Sept. 22 (Bonham). High counts of migrant Scarlet Tanagers were 30 at Blackwalnut Point on Sept. 7 (Reese + ) and 22 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers). An early Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in DC on Aug. 29 and 7 were seen there on Sept. 7 (Czaplak), and at Blackwalnut Point there were 25 on Sept. 7 (Reese + ). The McClures found about 25 Blue Grosbeaks at Centennial Park in Columbia on Sept. 8 and late individuals were at Denton on Oct. 2 (Hewitt), Assateague on Oct. 4 (Blom), Laurel Grove on Oct. 7 (Runkles) and Point Lookout on Oct. 16 (Wilson). The last Indigo Bunting reported was on the C & 0 Canal in Montgomery County on Oct. 8 (Wilson). Dickcissels and Sparrows. A Dickcissel was found on Assateague on Oct. 4 (Blom) and 1 was banded at St. Timothy’s on Oct. 7. The first American Tree Sparrows on the Coastal Plain this fall were 3 at Brandon Shores on Nov. 22 (Ringler). High counts of Chipping Sparrows were 80 at Chestertown on Oct. 2 (J. Gruber), 15 on Green Ridge on Oct. 17 (Simons) and 23 near Bellevue on Nov. 16 (H. Armistead + ). On Assateague 2 Clay-colored Sparrows were found on Sept. 14 (M. O’Brien + ) and 1 on Oct. 4*5 (Blom + ). Late Vesper Sparrows in the western part of the state were 1 at Oakland on Oct. 17 (Skipper) and 2 at Pinto on Oct. 26 (Simons). A Lark Sparrow was seen regularly on Assateague from Sept. 13 (M. O’Brien + ) through Oct. 4 (Blom). Early migrant Savannah Sparrows were 1 in DC on Sept. 7 (Czaplak) and 4 at Pinto on Sept. 12 (Ringler, Simons); 30 on Assateague on Oct. 4 (Blom) was the peak count. A Grasshopper Sparrow at Laurel Grove on Oct. 15 (Runkles) was very unusual. At Elliott on Aug. 17 there were still 35 Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the marshes (M. O’Brien, Davidson). An early Fox Sparrow was banded at Adventure on Oct. 9 and another moderately early bird was at Liberty Reservoir on Oct. 25 (Wright). Reports of Lincoln’s Sparrows were 1 banded at Laurel Grove on Sept. 13, 1 banded at Mt. Nebo on Sept. 17, birds banded at St. Timothy’s from Sept. 20 through Oct. 7, 16 banded near Oakland from Sept. 20 through Oct. 17 with 6 on Oct. 10, 1 banded at Laurel on Sept. 25, 1 banded at Adventure on Oct. 10 and 1 on Oct. 17, and 4 in Rockville on Oct. 11-12 (M. O’Brien). Reese found a Swamp Sparrow singing 5 miles east of Easton on Aug. 17, probably a local breeder. The banders near Oakland netted 126 Swamp Sparrows from Sept. 1 through Oct. 23 with a peak of 18 on Oct. 10; the first bird banded at Adventure was on Sept. 24 and the high count for the season was 100 at Jug Bay on Oct. 16 (Mumford, Ricciardi). A White-throated Sparrow at Wheaton on Aug. 15 (Gail Mackiernan) probably summered locally. Early migrant White-throats were banded at Oakland on Sept. 8 and Damsite on Sept. 20; the high count for the fall was 200 at Tower Gardens on Oct. 18 (Ricciardi, Ringler). The first White-crowned Sparrows of the season were 2 on Assateague on Oct. 4 (Blom), 1 at Jug Bay on Oct. 9 (Mumford, Ricciardi), 3 banded near Oakland on Oct. 10, 1 banded at Adventure on Oct. 11, and 12 at Pinto Marsh on Oct. 13 (Simons). Early Dark-eyed Juncos were 1 banded at Mt. Nebo on Sept. 6, 1 at Loch Raven on Sept. 13 (Resch) and 1 at Ocean City on Sept. 13 (M. O’Brien, Wilkinson). Longspurs , Snow Buntings. An early Lapland Longspur was at Deal Island WMA on Oct. 28 (P. O’Brien); others were 1 male at Hart - Miller on Nov. 9 (Kaestner, Blom + ), 1 on Assateague on Nov. 22 (Davidson) and 4 or 5 in southern Frederick County on Nov. 30 (Barry Cooper). The first Snow Buntings of the season arrived at three widely separated locations on the same day — Oct. 19, with 1 at Hart - Miller (Ringler + ), 2 on Assateague (Blom, Wierenga + ) and 1 at Hyatts- March 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 29 ville (Droege). The flock at Hart - Miller grew to 100 on Nov. 9 and 200 on Nov. 16 (Ringler + ). Others were 18 at Rock Hall on Nov. 6, 48 there on Nov. 12 (Grubers), I at Loch Raven on Nov. 7 (Simon, Jenkins), 30 at Triadelphia on Nov. 8 (Solems, Farrell), 3 at Elliott on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ), 30 at Sandy Point on Nov. 16 (Jane Arnold, Don Smith) and 50 on Assateague on Nov. 28 (Gough). Icterines. The most and latest Bobolinks were 100 at Rising Sun on Aug. 30 with the last birds there on Sept. 20 (Fogleman), 100 at Denton on Sept. 9 (R. Fletcher), 200 at Tilghman Island on Sept. 14 (Reese), 635 in southern Dorchester County on Sept. 14 (H. Armistead, Jones), 2 near Bellevue on Sept. 27 (H. Armistead) and 3 at Rockville on Oct. 12 (M. O’Brien). A migrant Eastern Meadowlark was at Hart -Miller on Oct. 5 (Ringler + ). An immature male Yellow-headed Blackbird was near Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (Davidson, P. O’Brien). There were few reports of Rusty Blackbirds, most at familiar locations, with 1 at North Branch on Oct. 6 and 21 there on Oct. 12 (Simons), the first of the season in Garrett County on Oct. II (Skipper), 2 at Jug Bay on Oct. 16 (Mumford, Ricciardi) and 50 there on Oct. 23 (Mumford) and 1 at Perryman in Harford County on Oct. 18 (Kirkwood). The only report of flocking Common Grackles was 10,000 near Oakland on Sept. 5 (Pope) and of Brown-headed Cowbirds was 250 at Charlotte Hall on Sept. 19 (Wilson). Late Orchard Orioles were 1 at Millington WMA on Aug. 15 (Armistead) and 1 in Charles County on Aug. 30 (Nistico). High counts of migrating Northern Orioles were 10 at Blackwalnut Point on Aug. 24 and 25 there on Sept. 7 (Reese + ), and 7 on Assateague on Sept. 14 (J. O’Brien). Finches. There were a number of early Purple Finches in mid-September with 2 at North Branch on the 13th (Ringler), 1 along the Patapsco River in Howard County on the 14th (Sheppard), 1 on Assateague on the 14th (M. O’Brien + ) and 1 at Hooper Island on the 14th (H. Armistead, Jones). The overall flight of Purple Finches did not live up to expectations and high counts for the season were only 16 at Connie Skipper’s feeder on Bray Hill, Garrett County on Oct. 20 and 30 in DC on Nov. 10 (Czaplak). Flocks of migrating House Finches were 250 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 500 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 (Reese) and 65 at Golden Hill on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ). Note that all these locations are on the bay side of the Eastern Shore, which always gets the majority of migrating flocks of this species. The only report of Red Crossbill was a male flying over Assateague on Nov. 22 (Davidson) and the only Common Redpoll was 1 at Sandy Point on Nov. 28 (John Pangborn). Pine Siskins breezed into the state in mid-October with 10 at Denton on Oct. 13-17 (Nuttle), 15 on Kent Island on Oct. 18 (Ringler, Ricciardi), 25 at Point Lookout on Oct. 18 (P. O’Brien), 6 in Allegany County on Oct. 19 increasing to 24 on Oct. 25 and 32 on Nov. 9 (Kiddy), 5 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 (Reese), 1 in Calvert County on Oct. 19 (Stasz), 15 at Piney Run on Oct. 25 (Ringler), 15 at Hills Point Neck in Dorchester County on Oct. 26 (Czaplak), 35 at Damsite on Oct. 30 (Grubers), 20 at the Bray Hill feeder on Oct. 30 and another 20 near Oakland on Oct. 31 (Skipper), 65 at Teresa Simon’s feeder near Cumberland on Nov. 7, and 65 in southern Dorchester County on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ). High counts of American Goldfinches were 100-125 at Loch Raven on Sept. 7 (Resch), 450 at Rock Hall on Oct. 3 (Grubers), 500 at Tilghman Island on Oct. 19 (Reese) and 300 in southern Dorchester County on Nov. 9 (H. Armistead + ). The 2 Evening Grosbeaks at Denton on Sept. 23 (Nuttle) were exceptionally early. Later reports were 15 at Damsite on Oct. 30 (Grubers), 21 at Cumberland on Nov. 6 (Simons), 23 at Connie Skipper’s Bray Hill feeder on Nov. 8, and 5 in Bethesda on Nov. 25 (Mieke Mehlman). 3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, MD 21207 30 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Vol. 43, No. 1 MARSH WREN NEST WITH SEDGE WREN EGGS Robert F. Ringler On June 16, 1978 while working on the Breeding Bird Atlas in Baltimore County, Maryland, Rick Blom and I investigated the marsh in Northeast Creek near Essex. We were hoping to find active nests of the Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) and other marsh birds. About 20 Marsh Wrens were singing in the marsh at the time. After finding several dummy Marsh Wren nests we discovered one that con- tained five eggs. I removed one egg to examine it. It was pure white and pyriform in shape. I replaced the egg, noting that all five eggs seemed cold, and we con- tinued exploring other parts of the marsh. Upon returning home and studying the literature on nests and eggs, we learned that the eggs of the Marsh Wren are oval and of a pale chocolate color, dotted and spotted with darker shades of brown, so as to appear almost uniform brown. Reading further we found that the egg we had observed was typical for that of a Sedge Wren (C. platensis). Confounded by this development we returned the next day to investigate further. Jim Stasz joined us on June 17 as we retraced our path into the marsh and quickly relocated the nest in question. The nest still contained five eggs that seemed cold. I removed all of them and found they were all as the first — white and pyriform in shape. We examined the nest more closely. It was a typical Marsh Wren nest constructed in and with cattails ( Typha sp.) about four feet above the water. After replacing the eggs we retreated from the nest to observe any activity around it. There was none. We listened for the song of a Sedge Wren, but heard only Marsh Wrens. We concluded that the nest had been abandoned. Continuing through the marsh we found two more typical Marsh Wren nests with eggs, one with four and the other with five. All of these eggs were typical coloration and shapeof Marsh Wren eggs. W e considered the facts: 1. Habitat — The Northeast Creek marsh is a small, fresh-water, tidal, cattail marsh at the mouth of Stemmers Run where it empties into Back River. 2. Nest — The nest was placed over water in cattails and was constructed of material from the cattails. The entrance was on the side. This is typical Marsh Wren construction and not at all like that of Sedge Wren, which is usually located in a grassy area of a drier marsh. 3. Eggs — The eggs were typical Sedge Wren eggs. Concerning Marsh Wren eggs Bent states that “very rarely an egg, or a whole set of eggs, is pure white and unmarked” and Sprunt adds “occasionally a light egg will be found, and the writer {Sprunt) has, a few times, found practically immaculate eggs.” Neither mentions the shape of these atypical eggs. 4. Nesting Activity — Judging by the lack of activity and singing at the nest and the coolness of the eggs it is logical to assume that the nest was abandoned. We did not visit it after June 17. Based on these facts I concluded that the nest was probably built by a Marsh Wren, the eggs were probably laid by a Sedge Wren, and the nest was apparently Marc h 1987 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE 31 abandoned by both species. It is probable that an unmated female Sedge Wren laid the set of infertile eggs in a handy Marsh Wren nest and left the area. No Sedge Wrens were found during the course of the Baltimore County atlas, but Marsh Wrens were found commonly in all similar habitats throughout the coastal plain parts of the county. In recent decades the Sedge Wren has been known as a very rare spring migrant in the county. REFERENCES Bent, A. C. 1948. Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers and Their Al- lies. U.S. National Museum Bull. 195, Washington, D.C. 475p. Harrison, Colin. 1984. Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins. 416p. Harrison, Hal H. 1975. A Field Guide to the Birds’ Nests. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 285p. Maynard, C.J. 1890. Eggs of North American Birds. DeWolfe, Fiske, Boston. 159p. Reed, Chester A. 1965. North American Birds Eggs. Dover, New York, N.Y. Sprunt, Alexander, Jr. 1954. Florida Bird Life. Coward-McCann, New York, N.Y. 527p. Stewart, Robert E. & Chandler S. Robbins. 1958. Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia. North American F auna 62, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 401p. 6272Pinyon Pine Court, Eldersburg, MD21 784 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW WITH ORANGE LORES Barbara Bilsborough On October 14, 1983, while banding at Romney Creek in Harford County I caught a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichiaalbicollis) with bright orange lores. It also had orange at the bend of the wing where typical White-throats have yellow. A search of my own literature turned up no reference to White-throats with orange lores. I checked with two banders, Gladys Cole and Rick Blom, and they had not seen a bird with orange lores before. Rick checked other literature sources for me and could find no reference to such a variation. I checked the bird against F. B. Smithe’s Naturalist's Color Guide American Mu- seum of Natural History and found the lores very closely matched color #17, Spectrum Orange. Curious about the variation in the lore color of White-throats, I checked several normal birds against the Guide and found they all matched color #55, Spectrum Yellow. The yellow on even the dullest-plumaged birds matched Spectrum Yellow, the dullness seeming to result from fewer yellow feathers, or to the feathers being veiled with brown. The organge-lored bird was normal in all other respects. It was an adult, with a reddish-brown eye and a completely pneumaticized skull. The wing measured 73 mm, at the high range of unknown sex. The weight was 25.8 grams. I would like to know if any other birders or banders have experience with orange- lored White-throats. 3426 Churchville Rd., Aberdeen, MD 21001 BOOK REVIEWS TO A Y OUNG BIRD ARTIST: Letters from Louis Agassiz Fuertes to George Miksch Sutton. George Miksch Sutton. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. 1979. 147 pp. $14.95. Even if you usually buy books intended to strengthen your field skills, you should not pass up this offering. It is a warm human story about birdwatchers, and bird artists. George Sutton might well have become a well-known bird artist without the help of Fuertes, but the fact is he didn’t have to. From a very early age George Sutton wanted to paint pictures of birds. As a young man he was largely self taught. Much of what he learned came from haunting the biology departments of the various colleges where his father was a professor. He was only about 15 when his first pictures appeared in Bird-Lore, coincidentally in the same issue as some work by Fuertes. That moved him to write to Fuertes. Remarkably Fuertes replied, beginning a correspondence about art that was to last many years. Part of what made Fuertes’ willingness to embark on this corre- spondence so remarkable was his own extraordinarily busy schedule. As his daugh- ter pointed out, she did not know how her father had time to open his mail, much less read it and answer. Answer he did though, and began, in a series of letters, to impart to the younger Sutton what he had learned about art, and the painting of birds. Perhaps he was moved to do so because something similar had happened to him when he was young. His mentor had been Abbott Thayer, and Fuertes was passing on the flame as it had been passed to him. Sutton is a self-effacing man, and nowhere in the low key narrative that accompanies the letters does he claim to have taken up the challenge. We know however, that a great many of today’s most prominent bird artists learned at Sutton’s knee, and perhaps someday we will see a book of letters he wrote to one of those young aspirants. Joy Wheeler CONTENTS, MARCH 1987 Belt Woods: Bittersweet Victory Mary Sykes Wylie 3 The Season: Fall Migration, August 1 - November 30, 1986 Robert F. Ringler 8 Marsh Wren Nest with Sedge Wren Eggs Robert F. Ringler 30 White-throated Sparrow with Orange Lores Barbara Bils borough . . 31 Book Review: To a Young Bird Artist Joy Wheeler 32 MARYLAND BIRDLIFE Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maryland. Editor: Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Rd., Laurel, Md. 20707 (725-1176) Assoc. Editor: Robert F. Ringler, 3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, Md. 21207 Asst. Editors: Eirik A. T. Blom, 1618 Somerville Rd., Bel Air, Md. 21014 Mark Hoffman, 313 Fernwood Dr., Severna Park, Md. 21014 James Stasz, 14741 Oden Bowie Rd., Upper Marlboro 20772 Mailing: Baltimore County Chapter Headings: Schneider Design Associates, Baltimore