Winter
Mild weather provided many opportunities for comfortable bird watching.
Unfortunately the Christmas Bird Count on January 2nd fell on one of the
few cold and windy days of the season. Nevertheless, the count produced
some interesting birds to start the year, including Hooded Merganser, Winter
Wren, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow- bellied Sapsucker. Other notable species
were Ring-necked Pheasant, Fox Sparrow, and American Tree Sparrow.
The first Ring-necked Pheasant since 1995 was seen from the beginning of
November 1998 through early February of 1999. The most common
wintering species were White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch,
Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, and Mourning
Dove.
Spring
There were so many highlights that it's difficult to choose among them.
Signs of the season began in early March with a Turkey Vulture and Brown-headed
Cowbird on the 3rd. A flock of about 60 Snow Geese flying over the
Nature Center parking lot on the 18th was the first of many unusual
sightings. An American Woodcock sitting beside a trail on the 21st
was only the third sighting since 1990. Yellow-rumped Warblers--the
first warblers of the season--appeared on March 30th. Palm Warblers
came next on April 4th. On April 2nd a Great Egret fished in the Monocacy--a
rare spring sighting. This bird is more often seen in fall, and is
usually seen as a "flyover." Another interesting heron, a Black-crowned
Night Heron, perched at the edge of the pond on April 23 and again on May
4th.
The discovery of a Great Horned Owl's nest with three young created much
excitement. First seen in mid April, the adorable young owlets grew
in their nest, entertaining birdwatchers until early May. Another
highlight of the season was a Prothonotary Warbler investigating the swampy
areas of the pond on April 24th. This was only the third sighting since
1990. May 5th was the best migration day with 66 total
species and 17 warblers. Highlights included Cerulean, Bay-breasted,
Blue-winged, Tennessee, and Nashville Warblers, Yellow-throated and
White-eyed Vireos, Least Flycatcher, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Bobolink
(this was only the second Bobolink observed since 1990). The International
Migratory Bird Day count on May 8th also produced some notable birds: 57 species
with 14 warblers included Worm-eating, Bay-breasted, and Tennessee Warblers,
Solitary Sandpiper, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Migration was about average;
no great concentrations of birds, but a steady, spread out migration with
a good variety of species.
A few unusual birds were yet to come as migration came to a close.
On May 13th a Mourning Warbler sang twice, but was invisible. A White-crowned
Sparrow foraged in the path by the pond on the 14th, and a probable Gray-cheeked
Thrush sang near the parking lot on May 25th and 27th. The season ended
with the exciting discovery of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on her nest.
Summer
30 species nested, with the possibility that 11 others also nested in or
near the area. Breeding birds included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow
Warbler, Great Horned Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and abundant American
Robins and Gray Catbirds. Criteria for breeding include observation
of nest building, adults feeding young, and recently fledged birds.
Nests observed included Baltimore Oriole, Great Horned Owl, and Ruby-throated
Hummingbird. Baltimore Oriole and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher continued to
increase for the second year. Tree Swallows bred at the pond this summer;
they used a new nesting box as their home.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at their nest enlivened the season until they fledged on July 4th. It was fascinating to watch the female perch on the edge of the nest to feed her young and place her sword-like bill into the small bills of the two juveniles. After the hummingbirds fledged, juvenile Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls became very vocal. Cries of Red-tails and squeaks of owls could be heard almost daily.
Fall
Migration began in early August. Birds rested here on their way
south, and nesting birds began to leave. Red-breasted Nuthatches, not
present every year, stayed from mid-August through October. September
was an exciting month with sightings of Philadelphia Vireo, Marsh Wren, and
Orange-crowned Warbler. October brought fewer warblers and more sparrows:
Purple Finch and Fox Sparrow appeared in October and November.
Although the variety of migrating species was good, numbers of individuals
were low.
134 species were observed in 1999. 28 of these were warblers. One species, Gray-cheeked Thrush, was new to the Nature Center.
Observers: Linda Freedman, Phyllis Heller, Jeff Hopkins, Barbara Malt, Steve Thorpe, Carolyn Watkins, Joe Zajacek
Compiler: Linda Freedman