Migration observations...

[Mr H]

Still some numbers of Ruddy Duck at Downs Park. Some males are coming into color, which is cool.

Also had a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher today, so warblers and vireos are sure to be here any minute

 

[Mr H]

Getting closer to full-on spring.

Northern Waterthrush today at Downs Park... but unexplained Rough-Legged Hawks near Ft. Meade yesterday

 

[Doco Overboard]

Hummingbirds were out front today.
I was surprised to learn that they would be here already.

 

[Mr H]

Hummingbirds were out front today.
I was surprised to learn that they would be here already.

Been expecting them for the past several days, but nothing yet.

Warblers, too... nothing other than Yellow Rump, Pine and Palm so far.

 

[Mr H]

Cattle Egrets have returned in the past week, and our Catbirds showed up in the yard yesterday!

 

[John from MD]

I just had a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak visit the feeder. I'm lucky I was sitting at the computer or I may have missed it. I always see at least one during the Spring migration.

 

[Mr H]

I just had a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak visit the feeder. I'm lucky I was sitting at the computer or I may have missed it. I always see at least one during the Spring migration.

Very cool.

We were out at Patuxent (North Tract) yesterday, and it seems there were reports of a mass migration wave late in the week, so all the 'birding as blood sport' types (I hate those people) were out in force, clogging things up and hard-charging around the refuge, ignoring rules and signage as they went.

But, even feeling the need to just stay in the truck for much of it, we still added 9 new birds for the year, including Hooded Warbler, Vireos, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting and several Wood Thrush, among others.

 

[John from MD]

Today I have a Cat Bird sitting on top of the feeder. This is the first year I have seen any of these around Davidsonville.

 

[Mr H]

Spring is finally locked in.

We spent some time in the Lewes area today (Prime Hook NWR), and picked up sightings on 11 new 'year birds' (currently at 153), including a few warblers and both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. Glossy Ibis are always neat, too.

 

[John from MD]

Spring is finally locked in.

We spent some time in the Lewes area today (Prime Hook NWR), and picked up sightings on 11 new 'year birds' (currently at 153), including a few warblers and both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. Glossy Ibis are always neat, too.

How's the traffic around there this time of the year?

 

[Mr H]

How's the traffic around there this time of the year?

Not terrible at all. But surprised me as being more than expected for a pre-season Monday.

We went across 16, as it dumps out pretty much at the refuge, then some shopping and Linner in Rehoho, then down Rt1 and across 90 to 50 and home. No real issues anywhere... until the ramp from 97 to Quarterfield was blocked

 

[John from MD]

Not terrible at all. But surprised me as being more than expected for a pre-season Monday.

We went across 16, as it dumps out pretty much at the refuge, then some shopping and Linner in Rehoho, then down Rt1 and across 90 to 50 and home. No real issues anywhere... until the ramp from 97 to Quarterfield was blocked

I used to work on the shore so I know all the back roads and farm trails. But Lewes has so many more houses built that it gets congested just about any day of the week. God help the folks that live there and want to go out to eat on a summer weekend.

 

[Mr H]

I used to work on the shore so I know all the back roads and farm trails. But Lewes has so many more houses built that it gets congested just about any day of the week. God help the folks that live there and want to go out to eat on a summer weekend.

404 is so built up as to be impassable now

16 is getting there, but there is still enough farmland to keep it uncongested

The are re-engineering DE1 to go OVER 16, though. I don't know if it's safety, traffic flow, coming development, or some of each??