Wednesday Morning Birding Report, June 27, 2018

David Moon and I led this week’s Wednesday Morning Birding program out of Joppa Flats Education Center on to Plum Island in search of one of Tom Wetmore’s Seaside Sparrows. Cloudy skies, temps in the low to high 70s, and winds SW/5-15 mph, generally made for a great day for birding.

We had great success in seeing the very accommodating Seaside Sparrow, thanks to Tom’s precise directions and Doug Chickering actually getting us on the bird. Thanks to both! This is the first time in at least 10 years that WMB has checked off this denizen of the salt marsh. Unfortunately, an identifiable photo is unavailable. But, in the same stretch of marsh, we had good views of a number of Saltmarsh Sparrows — no doubt including young of the year.

Saltmarsh Sparrow – Mike Densmore

Before the morning was over, it was obvious that the migration south is underway for a number of shorebirds. These birds are either nonbreeders or failed breeders. See the list below.

Male Red-winged Blackbird with groceries – Bob Minton

Female Red-winged Blackbird – Bob Minton

Willets – Mike Densmore

Orchard Oriole – Bob Minton

Green-winged Teal – Bob Minton

Yellow Warbler – Mike Densmore

Our list:
Canada Goose – common.
Gadwall (1) – Bill Forward Pool.
American Black Duck (1) – main panne marsh.
Mallard – common (mostly BFP).
Green-winged Teal (2) – North Pool from Hellcat dike.
Wild Turkey (1)
Double-crested Cormorant (~ 30)
Great Blue Heron (1) – BFP.
Great Egret (~ 15) – various.
Snowy Egret (~ 35) – various.
Glossy Ibis ( ~ 25) – small flocks flying here and there.
Osprey (2) – Pines platform.
[Bald Eagle (1) – immature flyover, PI Tpk, w. PI bridge.]
Black-bellied Plover (~ 30) – BFP.
Killdeer (2) – 1, pannes; 1, BFP.
Spotted Sandpiper (1) – Stage Island Pool.
Greater Yellowlegs (4) – 2, SIP; 2, BFP.
Willet – common.
Lesser Yellowlegs (1) – BFP.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (1) – BFP.
White-rumped Sandpiper (1) – SIP.
Herring Gull – common.
Great Black-backed Gull (5) -SIP.
Least Tern (~ 12) – pannes & SIP.
Common Tern (3) – SIP.
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove (~5)
Eastern Kingbird – common.
Blue Jay (1)
Purple Martin (~ 10) – lot #1.
Tree Swallow (~ 20) – pannes.
Barn Swallow (1) – pannes.
American Robin (1)
Gray Catbird (~ 5) – roadside.
Brown Thrasher (1) – S-curves.
European Starling – common.
Cedar Waxwing – common.
Common Yellowthroat (~ 7) – various.
American Redstart (1) – Goodno Woods.
Yellow Warbler (3)
Eastern Towhee (~ 5)
Savannah Sparrow (3) – pannes marsh, s. lot #3.
Saltmarsh Sparrow(~ 10) – pannes marsh, s. lot #3.
Seaside Sparrow (1) – pannes marsh, s. lot #3. Many thanks to Tom for
his precise directions to the most accommodating Seaside you could hope
for. And, thanks to Doug for actually pointing out the bird. We were
on the bird around 10:15 – remained perched on its grass clump for an
extended time and was singing.
Song Sparrow (~ 5)
Bobolink(~ 6) – North Field & The Warden’s field.
Red-winged Blackbird – common.
Common Grackle (~ 7)
Orchard Oriole (1) – pannes marsh, s. lot #3.
Purple Finch (2) – 1, New Pines; 1, Hellcat parking lot.
House Sparrow

As most of you know, Wednesday Morning Birding takes a break during the month of July. We’ll resume the program on Wednesday, August 1. By then, there will be many more shorebirds headed south, so start boning up on your “peep” identification skills! Until then, enjoy your summer. I do believe as I write, there’s a bit of heat coming our way . . . .

Cheers!

Dave Weaver

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *