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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Jake's Landing: Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows, nice mix of landbirds

Yesterday afternoon the rain broke for a little bit and we took the CMBO field trip out to Jake's Landing. Although it was windy and 1:00 in the afternoon, landbirds were surprisingly active. Pairs of Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Prairie Warblers were readily seen in the brushy field on the left side of the road (going in) between the two white pine groves. We heard at least two Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and Yellow-throated Warblers were giving alarm chips in response to Blue Jays in the second groves - Blue Jays were busy trying to maraud the nests not only of the Yellow-throated Warblers, but apparently of American Robins and possibly even Great-crested Flycatcher, given how upset the flycatcher was with them. How a Blue Jay gets at a Great-crested Flycatchers cavity nest I don't know.

Out at the end of the road, Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows were remarkably visible - we saw as many as three at once and I think there may have been 4 or more. Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Wrens were also out there, and Clapper Rails, Willets, and a female Northern Harrier filled out the salt marsh complement of birds.

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