July 1, 2012 Grand Vue

Bluebirds continue to flourish. I think there are birds on 3rd or 4th brood. Observed many young in trees awaiting food from parent birds. Nest box 1 has newly hatched chicks. Only three boxes of my five boxes where utilized by bluebirds but their population is doing well. Grandvue July 1 2012 Yellow throated vireo, Bluebirds in boxes and feeding young ( many), Flicker, Field sparrow,Chipping sparrow,Carolina wren,Cardinals,Common yellowthroat, Crow Wood thrush,Bluejays,Indigo bunting,Robins,Red eyed vireo, Towhee, scarlet tanager, Acadian flycatcher note April-July sitings Louisiana Water Thrush (note multiple sitings over time)

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.