Today was about Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our first stop of the day was in the former, Swan Harbor Farm where the Susquehanna river empties into Chesapeake Bay. Arriving just after daybreak we found a Wood Duck in the water near the bridge just before you turn down the entrance lane. A good start and another new bird for the trip. We spent a bit of time in this area as it got light, listening mainly, picking out Hairy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Eastern Wood Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher and American Robin. Once at the Farm we parked in the visitor area and started on a circuit of the marsh - this on the left as you drive down and is a surprisingly large area. It was dull and overcast but with great birding all the way around, with a Solitary Sandpiper, and several of each Yellowlegs. More Wood Ducks, lots of Canada Geese, Red-winged Blackbird and Great Blue Heron, several Osprey and a Northern Harrier. We also heard a Sora and saw the American Moorhen which is apparently quite a scarce bird and which was being twitched by a couple of birders we saw later. A fair few Tree Swallow, Chipping Sparrow and American Goldfinch in this area too, and Northern Mockingbirds along the track.
The wearther was holding (for now at least) and so crossing the entrance lane we walked around the south-western raised containment area. This seemed to be mostly dry, and contained lots of White-throated Sparrow, Cardinals, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and a singing Prairie Warbler. Down by the Bay was not as birdy, but we added lots of Bald Eagle and a few Cormorant, and a Merganser flew north towards Harvre de Grace. Overall we spent about two and half hours here, really decent birding - the full list is here.
By now it was approaching 9am and the weather was deteriorating. It had been breezy all morning but now the first spots of rain were arriving. We drove up to Susquehanna State Park on the west side of the river with the intention of birding the Ridge trail near Rock Run, but before we could really get started the heavens opened. We added a Baltimore Oriole, a Northern Waterthrush and an American Redstart before being forced to rapidly retreat - fortunately we were not especially far from the car. It seemed very localised though, and sure enough a short distance south at the Lapidum boat ramp it was dry enough to start birding again. The trees around the car park held Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler and a few other bits, and yet again we were bamboozled by singing birds that we simply could not get eyes on. Moving on to the Picnic area we experienced much the same, spending an hour under the cover of the canopy whilst hearing a constantly singing Kentucky Warbler that never showed. We did however manage to see both Nashville Warbler and Black-and-White Warbler here, and our first Eastern Phoebe.
By now the rain had set in properly and birding was impossible. Pausing for breakfast seemed like a good idea and we found a Denny's just over the river in Perryville. It was completely clear this side of the river but rather than go birding we stuffed our faces. I had a lumberjack slam which was totally ridiculous, that I couldn't finish, and that ensured I did not to eat for the rest of the day. We stayed here for an hour or so, consulting the rain radar whilst being restored by hot coffee and hash browns. It seemed that whilst not done there was a temporary gap we could use to add a few birds we had missed earlier.
Back at Lapidum we rapidly added a Caspian Tern and several Ring-billed Gulls on the river, and huge rafts of Double-crested Cormorants. Close to the crossroads here we had views of three Yellow-throated Warbler together, brought in by pishing, and a brilliant Worm-eating Warbler. Back at Rock Run a short session near the bridge added Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Prothonotary Warbler and a friendly White-breasted Nuthatch. Driving north along the river and stopping at various points added Wood Thrush and Cerulean Warbler, but with the rain now starting to return and Pennsylvania beckoning we decided to call time on Maryland and get going.
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| White-breated Nuthatch |
We crossed the State Line shortly before 3pm and could not resist stopping to get the list going. So a random pull-in near Stewartstown was where we kicked off with Yellow Warbler, Tree Swallow, Blue Jay and Song Sparrow amongst other species. Our first destination was still some way away though and we did not arrive until close to 4pm. This was the Lake Redman Boardwalk and was thoroughly enjoyable with a Green Heron, some nesting Warbling Vireo and Orchard Oriole, and some really showy Red-winged Blackbirds. The trees held some unexpected Cedar Waxwing, I guess we associate the family with cold weather but it's just a regular bird here in the US. This tiny trail also had Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Song Sparrow, Rough-winged Swallow, Northern Flicker and several Yellow Warbler.
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| Red-winged Blackbird |
Our final destination of the day was Gifford Pinchot State Park near Harrisburg which has several sites you can bird around a large lake. We chose the east side as it was closest, but I later felt the west side had better trees. Mick talked me out of it and we spent the rest of the day here seeing quite a lot. The best area was perhaps around the car park and a little further south, with our first Yellow-rumped Warblers in the trees with a Palm Warbler, a Veery near the lake and a Scarlet Tanager along a trail near the frisbee course (yes, this is a thing). Overall we saw close to 40 species here ensuring that our Pennsylvania list ticked over quite nicely, but it wasn't until the end of the day the we found any Warblers and as ever they were right at the top of the canopy. American Robins were everywhere, and Wood Thrush began to sing as the day drew to a close.
Chipping Sparrow 
Tufted Titmouse 
American Robin
We were not quite done though. Using eBird's target function we found that between us and West Virginia was a reliable site for Eastern Whip-poor-will in the Michaux State Forest. We were astounded as we arrived close to the pin along a quiet mountain road just after dark to see a bird in the car headlights. There were perhaps two or three present, feeding along the road, sometimes perching on it, and making a huge racket. Fantastic! I had only ticked this bird for the first time in Maine two years ago, and had not actually seen the birds, so get a view of one was really quite special. Our lodgings for the night were in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and we arrived pretty late. Luckily the Denny's extravaganza meant we didn't need to find somewhere to eat.
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