Hi Everyone,
I worked this weekend but was happy to get out a bit in the afternoon. I hit several spots -- Fort Armistead Park, Harbor Hospital, Ferry Bar Park, and Swann Park -- and had notible sightings at each location.
At Fort A, many gulls, mainly the common Ring-billed, good numbers of Herring and Great Black-backs, some Laughing Gulls remaining, along with many un-IDd gulls out against the harsh skies. Most notible were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls loafing out on one of the concrete slabs near the bridge, with many Greats and Herring Gulls for good comparison.
I stayed very shortly at Harbor Hospital, and scoped a resting hen Black Scoter just east of Nick's Fish House, near the bridge. I ran my scope east, down the bank and hit a drake BLACK SCOTER way out in my distance, but seemingly on the bank of Ferry Bar Park. I ran to the car to rush over for the chance�of close photos. The bird was 100 feet or so off, and lighting was harsh but I obtained some shots I was pretty happy with through the scope.
I stayed there for a while and had 28 DUNLIN fly down the Harbor, not a regular sight!
Next, I hit Swann Park, and had many common sparrows stacked up along the abandoned track, along with a FOX SPARROW. Also of note was continuing Forster's Tern, a count of 8 tonight, and most notably a fly-by PIPIT calling.
I posted a few photos of the Scoter drake and Dunlin flock:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thrasher72
Quite an exciting few hours of birding!
Jon Corcoran
Catonsville, MD
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