Wheaton Regional Park today 9/26

[Gail Mackiernan]

Hi all,

It did not look auspicious today for WRP, dull, overcast and very autumnal. Our first impression bore this out, other than flyover Flickers, Robins and Jays, the only early excitement was a Merlin zipping over to the south. Just bits and pieces until about 8:30 am, when we ran into a nice mixed flock near the Pine Lake dam. Best birds in it were the only Blackpoll of the day and a bright Blue-headed Vireo, FOS for us. Along Pine lake, another FOS, a single White-throated Sparrow. Another mixed flock was encountered by the wooden bridge, in rather poor light, with a different species mix dominated by Magnolias and Redstarts. At about this time there was a major movement of larger migrants into the open area behind the white house, many Red- bellied Woodpeckers and Catbirds as well as the ubiquitous Robins etc. We then encountered a third, larger mixed flock by the big willow near the train tracks. We and two other birders followed this rapidly-moving flock all around the open area, making almost a compete circuit, before the birds melted into the woods. Not every bird was identified but we added Blackburnian and Tennessee to the list. A brief foray into Brookside Gardens added a few species, such as Wood Thrush and a FOS Sapsucker. Actually one of the best days we have had this autumn, and who would have predicted it looking at the weather!

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD

Wheaton Regional Park and Brookside Gardens, Montgomery, Maryland, US
2.6 mile(s)
51 species (+1 other taxa)

Birds of interest:

Wood Duck 6
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Chimney Swift 14
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 In Gardens
Red-bellied Woodpecker 18 Major movement of these
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 First of season, in Brookside
Northern Flicker 20 Major influx, many flyovers
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Merlin 1 Flyover early
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 5 First of season
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 35 most in flyover flocks
House Wren 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Swainson's Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 2 in Brookside
American Robin 40 Estimate
Gray Catbird 20 Estimate
Brown Thrasher 2
Black-and-white Warbler 3
Tennessee Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 8
American Redstart 6 - all "yellowstarts"
Northern Parula 4
Magnolia Warbler 20 Probable underestimate, by far most common warbler
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 7
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 10
Chipping Sparrow 6
White-throated Sparrow 1 First of season
Eastern Towhee 2
Scarlet Tanager 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Heard only
Common Grackle 4



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