Swan Creek (8/1) and Fort Smallwood Park (8/2)

[Bill Hubick]

Hi Everyone,

Stan Arnold, Ed Carlson, and I did a weekend survey of Swan Creek in northern Anne Arundel Co. yesterday (8/1). The avocets appear to have moved on, but 100+ shorebirds continue along the edges of the dredge cells. In addition to similar numbers of KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPERs, LEAST and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERs, and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, there were a few more PECTORAL SANDPIPERs (4) and our first SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs (2) of the season. The summering BUFFLEHEAD (2), LESSER SCAUP (2), and RUDDY DUCKs (6) continue. We didn't see the Blue-winged Teal. Halloween Pennants emerged to mark the official transition to late summer.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24458040

On a walk with my daughters at Fort Smallwood Park this morning (8/2), a CASPIAN TERN had returned with a begging youngster in tow, our first of the season. I noted four ORCHARD ORIOLEs, the first I've seen locally in a couple weeks. At least two of them were obvious migrants flying high and landing in the tree tops. An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER continues to sing along the wooded edge near the gate (not a consistent nesting species here year to year).

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24465295

Good birding,

Bill

*** NOTE: Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open ONLY Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please be in your car and leaving at 3:30 p.m.. Remember to always sign in at the office, to be on your best behavior (people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to permitted areas. This Swan Creek map linked here details where you are and aren't allowed to walk. http://www.billhubick.com/docs/swan_creek_map.jpg. ***

Bill Hubick

Pasadena, Maryland

bill_...@yahoo.com

http://www.billhubick.com
http://www.marylandbiodiversity.com
http://www.facebook.com/MarylandBiodiversity

[Bill Hubick]

Hi Everyone,

I made a quick visit to Swan Creek in northern Anne Arundel Co. yesterday (8/7) (see access note below). Water levels remain high in the large dredge cell, and workers were in the process of creating a small cell on the western edge, near the office and flag pole. Between the disturbance there and the interesting weather, bird activity was frenetic. There seemed to be a small increase in shorebirds numbers, and the swallow totals were especially impressive. I estimated about 300, but the actual number could have been significantly higher. BARN SWALLOWs were most abundant, followed by BANK and TREE. Best shorebirds were a single WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a single WESTERN SANDPIPER. I had my first juvenile LESSER YELLOWLEGS of the year among 16 adults. The lingering BUFFLEHEAD and LESSER SCAUP continue and were hanging out on the small islands. My favorite find was a migrant YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in the mitigated wetland area.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S24526413