Backpacking Trip to Savage River St Park

I enjoyed a 3+ mile backpacking/camping/fishing trip this past week. My brother, Oren and I packed into Poplar Lick which is a tributary of the upper savage river in Garrett Counyt Maryland. Birds galore. I observered more Louisiana Waterthrush and was much better at identifying these birds. The best bird was the Winter Wren which was heard repeatedly throughout the day. Nesting wrens were all around us. They are very alusive however and I was not able to see a wren sitting for very long. Most were in flight leaving thick cover.

Winter Wren, Lousiana Waterthrush, Waxwings, Least, Acadian, Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood and Veery Thrush, Warblers: Blue Winged, Yellow, Yellow Throat, Black throated Green, Towhees, all apparently nested in the area.

Fishing was good on that small stream. We both caught a good number of fish. My highlight came on day 2 when within two hours I caught two ten inch brooke trout and saw a black bear (my first). He stepped into the water in front of me about 50 feet. He came to about my waist at his shoulders. I spotted him first and when alerted to my presence he bolted. FUN.

Chickadee nest in back yard

June 20, 2011. I almost forgot to post my observations on the chickadees that nested in a nestbox under my deck. Two young birds came out of the box a little early. I was easily able to pick them up, take some pictures, and put them back in the box. I will try to upload some pictures to this site. Since June 20 I have not seen any activity in the nestbox.

July 2011 summary post

Many hikes and observations have taken place since the last post. A follow up to the Norther Waterthrushes at Nauvoo. My last visit in June yielded two Waterthrushes that stayed within a 20 foot radius of me when I positioned myself in the small stream bed. I had to be right on top of their nest but they never went back on the nest. I did not have time wait them out. More hooded warblers and verios and many blue birds. The orchard orioles definitely nested at nauvoo.

In early July I picked berries at Nauvoo and noted the following:
Red Tail Hawk that I scared away for a near by powerline.
White Eyed Verio
Yellow throated? verio
Hooded Warblers
Common Yellow Throats
Red eyed verios
Blue birds
Barn, Tree,swallows
and many other sitings.