Date: 8/12/26 10:21 am From: Harry Armistead <harryarmistead...> Subject: [MDBirding] Ferry Neck August 1-7, 2026.
FERRY NECK, RIGBY’ FOLLY, AUGUST 1-7, 2026. A time of widespread growths of chicory (“corn flowersâ€) on road shoulders.
My reports have a lot of goodies. You’d think all is O.K., but it isn’t. I can hardly walk. When I do, my balance is SO poor. Lack of stamina. Liz is bothered by sciatica. We have other challenges that I won’t go into now.
Still, a lot can be seen by just sitting in one place or driving very slowly with the windows down.
The 1st summer I can remember when there have been no yellow-billed cuckoos in the yard.
JUNE 18, THURSDAY. Mary and David and their guests, Ali and Mason Lindemann, see, photo & video a rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus), probably pretty common, but seldom seen because they blend in SO well when they are in a backdrop of vegetation.
AUGUST 1, SATURDAY. Arrive at 5 P.M. Overcast, 83, SW 10, some light rain. One each of calling eastern screech-owl, great horned owl, and green tree frog, plus several Cope’s gray tree frogs. Liz sees 5 or 6 fireflies.
AUGUST 2, SUNDAY. Liz sees a wild turkey hen with 2 young. 76-85, very damp, overcast, rain in the afternoon, winds S 10-15. See a hackberry emperor.
AUGUST 3, MONDAY. overcast, 77-83, SW 12, clearing around noon. 1.15†rain in last 24 hrs. With some difficulty, contortion antics, determine that the Magnolia grandiflora my mother planted in the early 1950s is now 107†in circumference (8’ 11â€), with a diameter of 27â€, these at 3’ up from the ground, at which point this tree bifurcates into 2 large segments. The state champion at Princess Anne has a circumference of 276â€! (23’)
Somewhere I read that Brooke Meanley thought such magnolias are not found naturally north of North Carolina, but did allow as, with ALL his years there, he DID see what he thought was a natural one, but only once in Dismal Swamp.
Today there are tremendous cumulus clouds, the likes of which I have never seen, except in Florida. Some cumulus clouds are 7 miles in depth. They remind me of the fine paintings by Francis Lee Jacques, one with a large wheeling flock of white ibis. Lovely skyscapes today and in Jacques’ art.
One of only 2 here of which I am aware, the marsh hibiscus in the hedgerow of the driveway X Field 4 has disappeared. For years it got less and less sun. There’s another at Lucy Point. Locally many are blooming at various sites.
Tiger swallowtail 1. Chipping sparrow 4. Eastern cottontail 1. A great egret in Field 4, no doubt stuffing itself in the wetland there with the myriad baby Fowler’s toads that seem to be everywhere this summer. 3 spotted turtles basking in their favorite place, the vernal pool in Woods 4. Red-spotted purple 1. A male cardinal with an extremely bright green, large, insect. Out in the cove a Forster’s tern, a herring gull, and a laughing gull at 5:26 P.M.; larids can be so scarce at this time of year.
AUGUST 4, 2026, TUESDAY. RF. 75-86, winds NW 10 or E 15, fair and hot, low humidity, becoming overcast at the end. A 10-hour effort to document birds present during the “dog days†of summer, the mid-summer doldrums, 8 A.M. - 8 P.M., with 2 hours off for rest and nap in the afternoon.
Yesterday seen on the front porch 3 broad-headed skinks simultaneously, 11â€, 10†and 10 ‘’. All the skink photos George has submitted to iNaturalist have been IDd as broad-headed.
48 species, representative, but could easily have been 4-5 more if typical early August migrant landbirds had been noted, e.g.: empidonax flycatchers, yellow (especially), redstart, and/or black-and-white warblers, post-breeding swallows, and bobolink. Also, good chance for a shorebird flyover, most all of them here are flyovers. Of those possibles only the gnatcatcher and red-eyed vireo are seen. 48 species, nice, but notable are their small numbers, in most cases. There just are not as many birds as there used to be.
Record August lists here: 85 species August 30, 1994, and 79 August 22, 1993. In both cases there was a big influx of warblers and other migrant landbirds. Likewise, also, August 24, 1955, 65 species.
A record 7 heron-types: snowy egret 3, great egret 2, cattle egret 4, great blue heron 2, green heron 1, glossy ibis 4, white ibis 1 immature.
The white ibis is headed in the direction of Poplar Island, is a new yardbird, species 274. New yard birds only happen once every 2-3 years.
the rest: blue-gray gnatcatcher 1, osprey 3, indigo bunting 3 (singing males), American goldfinch 2, tufted titmouse 2, Carolina chickadee 2, Carolina wren 4, great crested flycatcher 2, purple martin 12, mourning dove 2, American crow 3, northern cardinal 5, red-eyed vireo 1, wild turkey 1, turkey vulture 2 (surprisingly low), chipping sparrow 4, blue jay 2, fish crow 2, mallard 2, red-bellied woodpecker 1, bald eagle 1, pileated woodpecker 1, blue grosbeak 2, laughing gull 20, ring-billed gull 2, barn swallow 2, European starling 18, Forster’s tern also 18, northern mockingbird 2, common grackle 2, northern flicker 1, common yellowthroat 1, song sparrow 1, double-crested cormorant 2, house sparrow 1, chimney swift 1, mourning dove 2, tree swallow 2, wood duck 2, downy woodpecker 1, eastern kingbird 1, red-winged blackbird 12.
With this amount of effort it is surprising not to see much in the way of non-bird species: only 3 diamondback terrapin, 2 gray squirrels, and 3 deer.
AUGUST 5, WEDNESDAY. Mowers are here 8:10 - 8:50 P.M. Chesapeake Land Management. They do good work. 75-86, SW 4-11, fair, hot, some light rain. 0.25†the last 24 hours. Out just past the tire swing 2 small, spotted fawns browse for an extended period. Visit ‘Tranquility’ where neighbor Nancy Lytell has put the old place on the market after 31 years of loving residence. My grandparents bought ‘Tranquility’ almost exactly 100 years ago.
AUGUST 6, THURSDAY. 79-88, hot, fair, SW 10. Unusual for raccoon depredations on the feeders to be witnessed in broad daylight in the afternoon. Ugh! After all the rains a lot of mushrooms and toadstools pop up. Liz submitted a shot to iNaturalist of one particularly big one on the lawn that was IDd as: purple-spotted puffball (sounds like a child’s toy).
AUGUST 7, FRIDAY. 77-89 today (83 on leaving), SW 10-15, fair. A red-spotted purple. Leave for Philadelphia at 10:22 A.M.
Best to all. - Harry Armistead, Bellevue and Philadelphia.
1,128 words. August 12, 2026.
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Date: 8/11/26 5:17 am From: 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding <mdbirding...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Duck ID help, Crownsville, next to Severn River
Thanks for chiming in. I appreciate it. I'll just keep them as mallards.
On Monday, August 10, 2026 at 11:10:35 AM UTC-4 Jim Nelson wrote:
> eBird offers "Mallard (Domestic type)" as a reporting option. Here is
> what they have to say about "Domestic type" taxa:
>
> "eBird has separate ‘domestic type' taxa for 15 species. When you see
> these in eBird they will always have an Exotic Code, which can range from
> Escapee (most often) to Naturalized (for some species) depending on their
> level of establishment.
>
> Importantly, domestic type taxa should be thought of as taxonomic
> entities—sort of like subspecies. They are a sub-population of the parent
> species with a unique and specific evolutionary history and appearance.
> Many domestic types are larger and have more variable plumage (often white,
> black, or mottled) compared to their parent species. In most cases the
> domestic types don't form self-sustaining populations and don't occur near
> the native range of the parent species, but there are notable exceptions
> (Graylag Goose, Mallard, Muscovy Duck, and Feral Pigeon have the most
> overlap in the range of native and domestic type forms).
>
> When reporting to eBird, please report wild-type birds as the parent
> species and use "domestic type" for individuals that show clear signs of
> domestication. These two types are generally identifiable in the field, so
> identify them as you would any other species, but also take note of their
> behavior and habitat."
>
> Given how little white is on the chest of the male and at the base of the
> bill of the female Mallard in your photos, and the lack of a curly tail on
> either, I would lean toward reporting these as "Mallard" unless you
> otherwise think there are clear signs of domestication. Could be some
> domestic type genes in there, or it may just be some leucism (expressed as
> white areas where other colors would be expected.
>
> Jim Nelson
> Bethesda, MD
> <kingfi......>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2026 at 10:46 AM Steve Long <steve......>
> wrote:
>
>> I can't answer about ebird.
>>
>> In some places, Mallard hybrids are quite common, with all sorts of
>> strange markings. If the operators of ebird have any interest in all about
>> them, I SUPPOSE they would have some category for hybrid Mallards. But
>> sorting out what ancestry is probably not even possible.
>>
>> Interestingly, in the autumn here near Oxford, I am recently seeing large
>> migrating flocks of Mallards that appear to be mostly if not all
>> pure-bred. And the large flotilla of strange looking hybrids that used to
>> live in our cove is now long-gone.
>>
>> Steve Long, Oxford
>> On 8/10/2026 9:15 AM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
>> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Steve. That makes sense. Is there an appropriate ebird thing to
>> register this under? I just have them down as mallards, which is as wrong
>> as black ducks I suppose.
>> On Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:57:57 PM UTC-4 Steve Long wrote:
>>
>>> Mallards will cross-breed with both Black Ducks and Peking Ducks (white
>>> domestic), and cross-breeds can further cross-breed, generation after
>>> generation.
>>>
>>> So, it would probably take a DNA sample and a costly analysis to figure
>>> out exactly what ancestral combination resulted in these 2 ducks.
>>>
>>> Steve Long
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/9/2026 6:08 PM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Can I get some expert advice on this duck family in our yard? I'd like
>>> to think they're mallard x black duck hybrids. There are 6 just hatched
>>> ducklings in the mix, and these 2 adults. What I assume is the male has a
>>> white breast patch, and on what I assume is the female, the speculum color
>>> is not blue, though it seems to be bounded by black and not white. This is
>>> at the Severn River. This time of year, I have only seen mallards. Chicks
>>> this late in the season and the lack of clear mallard markings have me
>>> confused. See attached photos.. Thanks for any thoughts. [image:
>>> L1023018.jpeg][image: L1023029.jpeg][image: L1023040.jpeg][image:
>>> L1023068.jpeg][image: L1023083.jpeg][image: L1023121 2.jpeg] --
>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>> Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
>>> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group
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>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<12785dc4-8fc8-4ea6-bbb3-911497e7e3a8n...> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<12785dc4-8fc8-4ea6-bbb3-911497e7e3a8n...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> .
>>>
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>>
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Date: 8/10/26 8:10 am From: Jim Nelson <jim.nelson.tax.aide...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Duck ID help, Crownsville, next to Severn River
eBird offers "Mallard (Domestic type)" as a reporting option. Here is what
they have to say about "Domestic type" taxa:
"eBird has separate ‘domestic type' taxa for 15 species. When you see these
in eBird they will always have an Exotic Code, which can range from Escapee
(most often) to Naturalized (for some species) depending on their level of
establishment.
Importantly, domestic type taxa should be thought of as taxonomic
entities—sort of like subspecies. They are a sub-population of the parent
species with a unique and specific evolutionary history and appearance.
Many domestic types are larger and have more variable plumage (often white,
black, or mottled) compared to their parent species. In most cases the
domestic types don't form self-sustaining populations and don't occur near
the native range of the parent species, but there are notable exceptions
(Graylag Goose, Mallard, Muscovy Duck, and Feral Pigeon have the most
overlap in the range of native and domestic type forms).
When reporting to eBird, please report wild-type birds as the parent
species and use "domestic type" for individuals that show clear signs of
domestication. These two types are generally identifiable in the field, so
identify them as you would any other species, but also take note of their
behavior and habitat."
Given how little white is on the chest of the male and at the base of the
bill of the female Mallard in your photos, and the lack of a curly tail on
either, I would lean toward reporting these as "Mallard" unless you
otherwise think there are clear signs of domestication. Could be some
domestic type genes in there, or it may just be some leucism (expressed as
white areas where other colors would be expected.
Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD
<kingfishers2...>
On Mon, Aug 10, 2026 at 10:46 AM Steve Long <steve.long4...>
wrote:
> I can't answer about ebird.
>
> In some places, Mallard hybrids are quite common, with all sorts of
> strange markings. If the operators of ebird have any interest in all about
> them, I SUPPOSE they would have some category for hybrid Mallards. But
> sorting out what ancestry is probably not even possible.
>
> Interestingly, in the autumn here near Oxford, I am recently seeing large
> migrating flocks of Mallards that appear to be mostly if not all
> pure-bred. And the large flotilla of strange looking hybrids that used to
> live in our cove is now long-gone.
>
> Steve Long, Oxford
> On 8/10/2026 9:15 AM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
> wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve. That makes sense. Is there an appropriate ebird thing to
> register this under? I just have them down as mallards, which is as wrong
> as black ducks I suppose.
> On Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:57:57 PM UTC-4 Steve Long wrote:
>
>> Mallards will cross-breed with both Black Ducks and Peking Ducks (white
>> domestic), and cross-breeds can further cross-breed, generation after
>> generation.
>>
>> So, it would probably take a DNA sample and a costly analysis to figure
>> out exactly what ancestral combination resulted in these 2 ducks.
>>
>> Steve Long
>>
>>
>> On 8/9/2026 6:08 PM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
>> wrote:
>>
>> Can I get some expert advice on this duck family in our yard? I'd like to
>> think they're mallard x black duck hybrids. There are 6 just hatched
>> ducklings in the mix, and these 2 adults. What I assume is the male has a
>> white breast patch, and on what I assume is the female, the speculum color
>> is not blue, though it seems to be bounded by black and not white. This is
>> at the Severn River. This time of year, I have only seen mallards. Chicks
>> this late in the season and the lack of clear mallard markings have me
>> confused. See attached photos.. Thanks for any thoughts. [image:
>> L1023018.jpeg][image: L1023029.jpeg][image: L1023040.jpeg][image:
>> L1023068.jpeg][image: L1023083.jpeg][image: L1023121 2.jpeg] --
>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'.
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>>
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Date: 8/10/26 7:46 am From: Steve Long <steve.long4...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Duck ID help, Crownsville, next to Severn River
I can't answer about ebird.
In some places, Mallard hybrids are quite common, with all sorts of
strange markings. If the operators of ebird have any interest in all
about them, I SUPPOSE they would have some category for hybrid
Mallards. But sorting out what ancestry is probably not even possible.
Interestingly, in the autumn here near Oxford, I am recently seeing
large migrating flocks of Mallards that appear to be mostly if not all
pure-bred. And the large flotilla of strange looking hybrids that used
to live in our cove is now long-gone.
Steve Long, Oxford
On 8/10/2026 9:15 AM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC
Birding wrote:
> Thanks Steve. Â That makes sense. Â Is there an appropriate ebird thing
> to register this under? Â I just have them down as mallards, which is
> as wrong as black ducks I suppose.
> On Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:57:57 PM UTC-4 Steve Long wrote:
>
> Mallards will cross-breed with both Black Ducks and Peking Ducks
> (white domestic), and cross-breeds can further cross-breed,
> generation after generation.
>
> So, it would probably take a DNA sample and a costly analysis to
> figure out exactly what ancestral combination resulted in these 2
> ducks.
>
> Steve Long
>
> On 8/9/2026 6:08 PM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC
> Birding wrote:
>> Can I get some expert advice on this duck family in our yard? I'd
>> like to think they're mallard x black duck hybrids. Â There are 6
>> just hatched ducklings in the mix, and these 2 adults. Â What I
>> assume is the male has a white breast patch, and on what I assume
>> is the female, the speculum color is not blue, though it seems to
>> be bounded by black and not white. Â This is at the Severn River.
>> Â This time of year, I have only seen mallards. Â Chicks this late
>> in the season and the lack of clear mallard markings have me
>> confused. Â See attached photos.. Thanks for any thoughts.
>> L1023018.jpegL1023029.jpegL1023040.jpegL1023068.jpegL1023083.jpegL1023121
>> 2.jpeg --
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>
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Date: 8/10/26 6:16 am From: 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding <mdbirding...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Duck ID help, Crownsville, next to Severn River
Thanks Steve. That makes sense. Is there an appropriate ebird thing to
register this under? I just have them down as mallards, which is as wrong
as black ducks I suppose.
On Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:57:57 PM UTC-4 Steve Long wrote:
> Mallards will cross-breed with both Black Ducks and Peking Ducks (white
> domestic), and cross-breeds can further cross-breed, generation after
> generation.
>
> So, it would probably take a DNA sample and a costly analysis to figure
> out exactly what ancestral combination resulted in these 2 ducks.
>
> Steve Long
>
>
> On 8/9/2026 6:08 PM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
> wrote:
>
> Can I get some expert advice on this duck family in our yard? I'd like to
> think they're mallard x black duck hybrids. There are 6 just hatched
> ducklings in the mix, and these 2 adults. What I assume is the male has a
> white breast patch, and on what I assume is the female, the speculum color
> is not blue, though it seems to be bounded by black and not white. This is
> at the Severn River. This time of year, I have only seen mallards. Chicks
> this late in the season and the lack of clear mallard markings have me
> confused. See attached photos.. Thanks for any thoughts. [image:
> L1023018.jpeg][image: L1023029.jpeg][image: L1023040.jpeg][image:
> L1023068.jpeg][image: L1023083.jpeg][image: L1023121 2.jpeg] --
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Date: 8/9/26 5:58 pm From: Steve Long <steve.long4...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Duck ID help, Crownsville, next to Severn River
Mallards will cross-breed with both Black Ducks and Peking Ducks (white
domestic), and cross-breeds can further cross-breed, generation after
generation.
So, it would probably take a DNA sample and a costly analysis to figure
out exactly what ancestral combination resulted in these 2 ducks.
Steve Long
On 8/9/2026 6:08 PM, 'Ted on Little Round Bay' via Maryland & DC Birding
wrote:
> Can I get some expert advice on this duck family in our yard? I'd like
> to think they're mallard x black duck hybrids. Â There are 6 just
> hatched ducklings in the mix, and these 2 adults. Â What I assume is
> the male has a white breast patch, and on what I assume is the female,
> the speculum color is not blue, though it seems to be bounded by black
> and not white. Â This is at the Severn River. Â This time of year, I
> have only seen mallards. Â Chicks this late in the season and the lack
> of clear mallard markings have me confused. Â See attached photos..
> Thanks for any thoughts.
> L1023018.jpegL1023029.jpegL1023040.jpegL1023068.jpegL1023083.jpegL1023121
> 2.jpeg --
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Date: 7/30/26 2:52 pm From: Jim Nelson <jim.nelson.tax.aide...> Subject: [MDBirding] Interesting Turkey Vulture Interaction
I observed an adult Turkey Vulture on the ground in our Bethesda backyard eating something. This is only the second time we have had a Turkey Vulture on the ground. Most observations have been a bird soaring overhead.
I realized that, at lunchtime when we were sitting on the deck eating, I had gotten a hint of a rotting smell. The vulture was eating about 25 feet from the deck where we had been sitting, so I probably did smell whatever it was that was dead. From what I could see as the vulture was eating, it appeared to be a mammal, gray in color, probably a gray squirrel. After observing the vulture for about five minutes, another Turkey Vulture suddenly flew in, landed next to the first vulture, immediately grabbed the food item, and quickly flew off. I have seen Turkey Vultures eating as a group at a carcass, but this is the first time that I have seen one vulture steal a food item from another vulture and take off with it.
The first vulture looked rather puzzled for a while, and then flew off. As the vulture soared nearby, an American Crow began to fly after it, harassing it for a minute before giving up.
Seven or eight minutes later, a Turkey Vulture landed in the area where the food had been and began looking around. No way to tell if this was the first vulture coming back to check, or a new vulture that had picked up the residual smell.
All of this shows how well Turkey Vultures can smell dead stuff.
Jim Nelson Bethesda, MD <kingfishers2...>
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