From 21 to 26 May, 2000, I was on a little business trip to the USA. I had to pay visits to a number of companies and institutions in Maryland and Connecticut. This allowed me to do some birding in that area. Although my list was not extensive (mostly because I was not able to go out birding in the mornings), you may be interested to read what I did see, to get an indication of the species that can be encountered in those states in this time of year.

First, as I arrived late on a Saturday night in Baltimore, I had the whole (Sun-)day for myself. I decided to drive to Sandy Point State Park, taking the 50 eastwards from Annapolis and leaving it just before the Bay Bridge toll station. It is well signposted.

Unfortunately, the park was closed for birding because of a blues festival. This made me go for a previously considered option, namely to drive on to Delaware Bay. I ended up in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, which really was quite OK.

Continuing the 16 eastbound, you'll end up in Broadkill Beach. Just before reaching this, there's a fine mudflat. This held good numbers of waders and other marsh birds:

Imagine my surprise when, on pishing at some bushes near the beach, out popped 4 Magnolia Warblers, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Solitary Vireo, 3 Yellow Warblers, 2 Common Yellowthroats, a Wood Thrush and a Brown Thrasher! This pishing works fine in Europe, but it's never as successful as here in N-America.
Spring was really underway and Cedar Waxwings were building their nests.

Too bad that not much activity was to be found on the beach itself; a distant group of some 50 Knot was feeding, but the big wave feeding on Horseshoe Crab eggs had probably already passed or was going on somewhere else. I later learned that the major spawning areas were a little more to the North, roughly between Slaughter Beach and Bombay Hook NWR. Lots of Laughing Gulls, though.

A little back from the beach, you will find road 236 leading North to the NWR Visitor Center. Here you can get a map and walk one or more of the trails. From the Dike Trail I saw some Least Terns, lots of Glossy Ibises, several species of duck and heard a Sora calling. The woods along the Boardwalk Trail were absolutely great with high numbers of (mainly Blackpoll but also Canada, Black&White and Magnolia) Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush, Carolina Wrens, White-eyed Vireos, Eastern Wood-pewees, Hairy Woodpeckers and some Redstarts. After ticking off 2 Northern Bobwhites on the road, I finally checked the Pine Grove Trail, which I unfortunately had to do a little hurriedly, since I still had quite a drive ahead. Here I saw 2 Pileated Woodpeckers chipping a tree to pieces, >10 singing Pine Warblers and many Ovenbirds.

On Monday evening (by then I was in the town of Frederick, Md.) I still had some time before it got dark, so why not? Out I went, to Gambrill State Park.

Take the 40 westbound, not the Interstate 70, as I did (I made quite some extra miles). It was late and somewhat foggy, so bird activity was low. However, I still managed to get good views of Yellow-billed Cuckoos mating, several Wood and Hermit Thrushes, Red-eyed Vireos and Scarlet Tanagers. It's always amazing when a male Tanager comes into view. Makes you need sunglasses....

The next day, it was time for me to fly back to New York. Arriving there around noon, I still had the rest of the day for birding (and driving into Connecticut). The weather had deteriorated now, with an overcast sky and quite a strong wind. Nevertheless, I drove to Jamaica Bay (which is very close to the airport) and had a look at the Gateway National Recreation Center. This reserve offers a combination of salt marsh (good for all kinds of herons) and some lush woods, which turned to be good for warblers. Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Yellow Warblers all showed themselves well, as did Redstarts, more White-eyed Vireos and a White-crowned Sparrow. The marshes yielded a flock of (Pale-bellied) Brent Geese, American Oystercatchers and several more species of wader.

On Wednesday, I drove in the afternoon, which was quite hot again, to Litchfield in NW Connecticut. Here, a fantastic park is situated (and well signposted) along the 202 SW, the White Memorial Foundation (Ph 860-567-0857). This reserve offers a variety of different biotopes, including some virgin mixed forest. A bird list with recent sightings is in the information shed. Just buy a map in the museum and bird away! I guess I could have stayed several days here. Now, I just birded the Catlin Woods and the Lake Trail. Best birds were >10 Common Nighthawks foraging at 1.30 p.m. over the forest, Least, Willow and Alder Flycatchers, Hermit Thrushes, a Northern Parula, a singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak and again several species of warbler.

Thursday morning had me birding in Groton, Ct. I went to Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, a site known for migration waves. Take exit 88 from the Interstate and head S on the 117. Turn R onto the 1 and make a left again after 0.3 miles (into Depot Lane). Pass under the railroad and the reserve is straight ahead. It's a nice area of woods, obviously attractive to migrating songbirds. Here, I saw some Tufted Titmice, several Blue-winged Warblers, a "Lawrence's Warbler" (the recessive Golden-winged Warbler hybrid) and a female Summer Tanager (near the railroad). This bird obviously had overshot its nearest breeding grounds, some 250 miles to the south.

In the afternoon, I drove to the State of Rhode Island, to see if any sea ducks were present at Sachuest Point (Ph 401-847-5511). Only 1 Eider and a distant scoter was all I could find. I obviously was too late for any Harlequin Ducks (which usually linger here during winter and early spring).

Friday morning was for birding and for driving back to New York, where I had to be arond noon. I chose for Devil's Hopyard State Park (E Haddam). This site can be found by driving the Interstate 95 and taking exit 70. Drive N on the 156 for about 9 miles. Then, turn right on the 82 and after 0.2 miles turn left onto a road signposted for the park. You will arrive at the park entrance after about 3.4 miles.

I walked some of the trails here and, although without a map, I managed to loop the orange trail (which goes up quite a bit). However, this higher altitude part was rather quiet. A gorgeous Louisiana Waterthrush was singing near the junction of blue and orange trail and along the stream (actually near the parking area), Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swainson's Thrush, a singing Veery, Tufted Titmice and Acadian Flycatchers were seen.

The park offers many more trails, so I felt sorry for having to leave so soon. This site obviously deserved more scrutiny. Perhaps some other time!

For questions or remarks, please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to teus.www@tiscali.nl

For more information on these birding areas, see also:

• Real Birds: Birding in Connecticut
• The Connecticut Birding Web Site
• Where do you want to go birding in Connecticut today?
• Birding Connecticut
• Birding Rhode Island
• Delaware Birding Locations
• DAS ONLINE - Birding in Delaware
• Where do you want to go birding in Delaware today?
• Birding in Maryland
• Where do you want to go birding in Maryland today?
• Real Birds: Birding in Maryland

Copyright ©Teus Luijendijk 2000