Birding Event Results from David Moulton

Trip Report from David Moulton

of the

Southern Maryland Audubon Society

(SMAS)

 

On Sunday, September 23rd, with rain pelting down despite our attempts to avoid it with a later start, an intrepid trio joined me for our fall outing to Historic Sotterley Plantation in search of migrating and charismatic resident birds.  Given the conditions, we opted to hop in the car and drive around the property, hoping to find fall flocks through the downpour. We were soon rewarded with looks at distant Wild Turkeys and nearby Eastern Bluebirds -- good signs that birds were active despite the rain. A late Osprey glided by, and a majestic adult Bald Eagle took a perch in a tall oak. Our first migrant was a female/juvenile Cape May Warbler in a patch of cedars.  The classic springtime Cape May patterns were clear to see, but the coloring was dull and the chestnut cheek patch was slate gray in keeping with non-breeding plumage.  Later, we stumbled on a handsome Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a group of 4 Osprey perched together, as if discussing whether it might be time to head south.  Overall, we squeezed 22 species out of some tough birding conditions, but enjoyed the challenge.

Sotterley Plantation, Greenwell SP, Steer Horn Neck Road

St. Mary's, Maryland, US
Sep 23, 2018 9:50 AM - 11:52 AM
SMAS TRIP: D Moulton (leader), A Heck, B & W Walker.

22 species

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  13
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  23
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  5
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  11
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  5
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  11
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  1     

Female. Gray face patch, yellow breast with gray streaking, white wing bars.
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48698030

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)