I was so lucky to find a pair of Black-billed Cuckoos today! I watched them for over an hour as they ate tent caterpillars and engaged in courtship display.

Tags:   black-billed cuckoo black-billed cuckoo eating tent caterpillars

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Before the sun came up the fields were filled with sparrows. I noticed one fluttering in the weeds. As I approached I realized he was stuck and hanging by his tail. I gently removed him from the burrs he was tangled in. The bird seemed plump and healthy. The feathers were clean but were so covered with burrs he couldn't get free. I cleaned them all off and released him. I have never seen a bird caught in burrs before? I had to really fight the urge to give him a kiss before he flew off. What a moment and the start of an amazing eleven sparrow species day!

Tags:   Song Sparrow sparrow bird stuck in burrs Howard County Conservancy Melospiza melodia Howard County Howard County Maryland Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant Farm

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I decided not to bring the bird lens through the chest high wet grass......luckily I had the little coolpix. Darling baby! So glad they were successful this year! You can hear the adult singing in the background.

Tags:   grasshopper sparrow

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Wasn't sure what this behavior means....I looked very carefully for males but she was alone.

Tags:   Bolas Spider mastophora hutchinsoni

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Gray Catirds are an unusual wintering species here in Maryland. This one is in an area full of food so I hope it makes it through the winter. With days like this one (near sixty) it should be fine. There is a brief chipping of Northern Cardinal in the beginning of the video. Towards the end a Song Sparrow starts "chupping" and then flies into the thicket behind the catbird.

Tags:   Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird bird overwintering

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