Jane Kostenko and I went down to Pt. Lookout State Park this morning in our ever futile pursuit of either crossbill species for St. Mary's County. The pattern that has evolved is that someone reports them, we drive down, the crossbills are gone! We parked near the fort and walked all around the area only finding a group of Brown-headed Nuthatches quite actively feeding and beeping. Same deal in the picnic area.
When we went down to the point, George Jett and Gwen Brewer were just getting out of their car and headed toward the pond. A swallow flew overhead and was joined by another. The first was a Northern Rough-winged Swallow, the second a Tree Swallow. NRWS is probably less expected at this time of year than Cave Swallow which was the bird that George was in search of. Maybe after the bottom drops out of the weather overnight, some CASWs will appear? I'm a terrible prognosticator so the opposite will likely happen ;)
Oddly, we only saw one Brown Pelican at the point and zero cormorants. All three scoters were there with the overwhelming majority being Black Scoters. A few Lesser Scaup and Buffleheads but not much else for variety.
We needed to be at the Great Brick Chapel at Historic St. Mary's City for docent duty so we had to leave. Very busy day there probably due to the nice weather. Lots of people, few birds.
Tyler Bell
<jtylerbell...>
California, Maryland
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