Well, the 2009 spring birding classes have some to an end. A great big thanks to our mentor and friend, Jerry McWilliams, for his generosity, patience and for being an all around good sport. No questions were too trivial and no ridiculous comments ridiculed. Unfortunately, after class Jerry was caught by the DCNR speeding off the park & creating a disturbance by yelling “Hallelujah, it’s over!” repeatedly. He was brought to central booking–a.k.a. the Ranger Station. We all chipped in 5 bucks and posted his bail. A bake sale will be held next week at the Stull Center to retain an attorney for Jerry. There are rumors that Jerry may jump bail and leave the country this week, maybe heading to South America! We’re confident he’ll stick around so we don’t all lose all the money we chipped in for his bail.
The following is an excerpt from Jerry’s first correspondence post-incarceration.

We sure lucked out on the weather again. Forecasts were for rain, strong wind, and thunderstorms. It never materialized, at least the rain never came until we were in our cars and leaving the park. The skies remained mostly cloudy with humid temperatures in the low 70’s throughout the morning. Joining me for class today was Bernhard & Janet, Toni, Julie Leonard, Michele, Joao, Jean, and Kate. We had a super day of birding with lots of bird activity. We stopped at the Great horned Owls nest. From there we were able to see the top of the owlets head. The adults weren’t around.

Pine Tree trail was kind of quiet, except for a fleeting glimpse of a Bald Eagle through the trees. The entrance of Thompson Circle was pretty good with many species of birds to look at, but the prize find was a Black-billed Cuckoo that gave us prolonged views.
Fry’s landing was the hopping place to be with many warblers to sift through. Our most interesting finds there were Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Orange-crowned Warbler. We spent most of the morning at Fry’s then we stopped to have a look at the Least Bitterns nest. We watched the male rolling the eggs and repairing the nest.
When we went out to the channel to use the restroom with had a Swainson’s Thrush out in plain view as well as a Gray-cheeked Thrush, though the latter didn’t stick around long. Sidewalk Trail was a little slower than Fry’s, but we did manage to turn up another Orange-crowned Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush.

We recorded the following 71 species of birds:
Canada Goose–several everywhere
Gadwall–one in Horseshoe Pond Mallard–a couple in Horseshoe Pond and a pair along Thompson Bay
Common Goldeneye–one male in Horseshoe Pond
Least Bittern–one male incubating on a nest
Turkey Vulture–11 over Niagara Pond
Bald Eagle–one over Pine Tree Trail
Cooper’s Hawk–one over Fry’s landing Killdeer–a couple in beach 11 parking lot
Spotted Sandpiper–one along Beach 11
Ring-billed Gull–a few at Gull Point Herring Gull–at least a couple at Gull Point
Caspian Tern–a couple overhead
Black-billed Cuckoo–one at Dead Pond Trail
Common Nighthawk–one above the owls nest
Ruby-throated Hummingbird–one flying over Sidewalk Trail
Downy Woodpecker– a couple over Sidewalk Trail
Eastern Wood-Pewee–a couple at Thompson Circle, one or two at Fry’s landing, and one on Sidewalk trail
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher–two at Fry’s landing
Least Flycatcher–singles at various sites
Great Crested Flycatcher–singles at most sites
Eastern Kingbird–a couple heard
Blue-headed Vireo–one or two at Fry’s and one on Sidewalk Trail
Warbling Vireo–one heard singing at the meeting place, The Feather
Red-eyed Vireo–fairly common throughout
Blue Jay-several throughout
American Crow–one at Thompson Bay
Purple Martin–four over beach 11
Tree Swallow-several throughout
Northern Rough-winged Swallow–two along Beach 11
Barn Swallow–several throughout
Red-breasted Nuthatch–two at Fry’s landing
House Wren–several throughout
Ruby-crowned Kinglet–one along Pine Tree trail
Veery–singles at various sites with one singing at Fry’s landing
Gray-cheeked Thrush–one at the channel and one on Ridge Trail
Swainson’s Thrush–singles at several sites including one singing along Pine Tree Trail
Wood Thrush–a couple singing at Fry’s landing
American Robin–several throughout
Gray Catbird–many throughout
European Starling-little groups at a few sites
Cedar Waxwing–about 20 flying past the owl site
Orange-crowned Warbler–one at Fry’s landing and one on Sidewalk Trail
Nashville Warbler–one at the channel
Northern Parula–one heard singing at Fry’s landing
Yellow Warbler–several everywhere
Chestnut-sided Warbler–more than 40 throughout
Magnolia Warbler–more than 40 throughout
Black-throated Blue Warbler–more than 30 throughout
Palm Warbler–at least a few at several sites
Bay-breasted warbler–at least a dozen at Fry’s landing and two or three on Sidewalk Trail
Blackpoll Warbler–one heard out the window while driving along the road Black-and-white-Warbler–at least a dozen altogether
American Redstart–more than 50 all total
Ovenbird–at least four heard and one seen briefly at Fry’s landing
Northern Waterthrush–a couple at Fry’s landing and one on Sidewalk Trail
Common Yellowthroat–several at most sites, mostly heard only
Hooded Warbler–one female seen briefly and another bird heard at Fry’s landing
Wilson’s Warbler–One at Thompson Circle, one or two at Fry’s landing, and one or two on Sidewalk Trail
Canada Warbler–one or two at each site
Eastern Towhee–several at most sites
Chipping Sparrow–two in beach 11 parking lot
Swamp Sparrow–a few heard singing
White-throated Sparrow–one or two at each site
White-crowned Sparrow–some along the road, at beach 11 parking lot, and three on Sidewalk Trail
Northern Cardinal–one male at Thompson Circle
Rose-breasted Grosbeak–one heard at Fry’s landing, and one seen on Ridge Trail
Red-winged Blackbird–a few at most sites
Brown-headed Cowbird–a few at most sites
Baltimore Oriole–several throughout American Goldfinch–two at Beach 11 parking lot

~Jerry McWilliams (Instructor)

Thanks and Good Luck to you Jerry and if you do go on the lam–YOU OWE ME 5 BUCKS!