Jacobsburg State Park and the Regency Ponds ~ May 15, 2023

I went to Jacobsburg State Park in the morning to see how active the migration was. It turned out to be a little less productive with some exceptions. I found Ovenbird, Yellow, Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Blackburnian, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Louisiana Waterthrush, and the much more uncommon Hooded Warbler. A Magnolia Warbler did its best to hide in the thick leaves.

Magnolia Warbler

Two Ovenbirds and a Wood Thrush were found near the small overlook.

Ovenbird

Wood Thrush

A Common Loon made wide circles overhead. Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, White-throated and Field Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and Indigo Bunting were some of the other birds seen there.

In the late afternoon, I headed over to the Regency Boulevard retention ponds. Wood Thrush, American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Orchard Oriole were present along the woods.

A first-year male Orchard Oriole

A nice number of shorebirds rimmed the north pond. They were comprised of 5 Killdeer, 34 Least Sandpipers, 11 Spotted Sandpipers, 6 Solitary Sandpipers, and 20 Lesser Yellowlegs. For those of you that are trying to learn shorebird identification, I have added some identification points to each of these common species.

Least Sandpiper is one of the smallest sandpipers in a group also known as 'peeps'. Look for its dull yellow legs, small thin dark bill, and overall brownish coloration with a rufous tinge on the back.

Least Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper is a medium-sized sandpiper with a spotted breast and underparts, an orange bill, and a light brown back.

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper is a little larger than the Spotted Sandpiper with greenish-yellow legs, a bold white eye ring, a longer, thinner bill with a lighter base, and a pretty dark back speckled with white.

Solitary Sandpiper

Here's a photo showing the size comparison between a Solitary Sandpiper and a Least Sandpiper (left).

A Solitary Sandpiper with a Least Sandpiper (left).

Lesser Yellowlegs have long yellow legs, a fairly long neck, a dark thin bill, and longish wings.

Lesser Yellowlegs

A pair of Tree Swallows perched on the fence along the street.

A Baltimore Oriole landed on the shore to take a bath.

Baltimore Oriole

Here's a photo showing the Baltimore Oriole with a Spotted Sandpiper, a Solitary Sandpiper, and a Lesser Yellowlegs. Note the size comparisons of the three shorebirds.

A Baltimore Oriole with a Spotted Sandpiper (left), a Solitary Sandpiper (center), and a Lesser Yellowlegs (right).

There was no sign of any of the White-rumped Sandpipers at the nearby Monocacy Creek crossing at Steuben Road.

The single Snow Goose continued at the Green Pond Road retention pond.

Snow Goose

Other birds found in the Green Pond area included Spotted Sandpiper, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, and Baltimore Oriole.

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