I birded a few spots along the bay during mid-day today and found a few neat birds at Ferry Point in Queen Anne County. The highlights included a Lincoln's Sparrow (with lots of Song Sparrows), a 1st winter White-crowned Sparrow, four or five Palm Warblers (both "yellow" and "western"), a female Purple Finch, and five Red-breasted Nuthatches in the pines near the point. A few more details are included below.
Sandy Point State Park - fairly slow here, although there were lots of gulls to sort through. Totals gulls on or near the beach included 343 Laughing Gulls, 60 Ring-billed Gulls, 19 Herring Gulls, and 44 Great Black-backed Gulls. Of course, there were also lots of Double-crested Cormorants over the bay. Both Caspian and Royal Terns flew near the shore, and two Tree Swallows flew over the beach.
Ferry Point Park - I then crossed the bridge and went to Ferry Point Park, which is on the north side of Kent Narrows just north of the Chesapeake Exploration Center. This spot was particularly active, with lots of sparrows in the overgrown fields/marsh leading up to the point, and a good variety of passerines in the pines near the point. There were lots of sparrows on both side of the path leading to the point. Most were Song Sparrows, with smaller numbers of White-throated Sparrows. However, the highlight was a Lincoln's Sparrow that popped into view as I "spished" at the edge of the weedy field. I got good views of the bird as it perched in the open for 30 seconds or so. Other sparrows included a 1st winter White-crowned, Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and Chipping Sparrow. When I arrived in the pines near the point, I came upon another group of birds. Included in this group was four or five Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Pine Warbler, two Brown Creepers, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. On my way back to the car, I saw at least four Palm Warblers low in the trees and foraging in the grass. Also of note was a House Wren and my first Winter Wren of the fall. Lastly, a group of 11 American Goldfinch flew into a tree along the main path. I looked through the group and found one female Purple Finch mixed in with the group.
Fred Shaffer
<GlaucousGull...>
Crofton, Anne Arundel
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