The Talbot Bird Club task for today was to chase rarities that had been reported recently. The first stop at Fort Smallwood gave us wonderful extended views and photo ops of two flocks of white-winged crossbills, with at least 17 being counted. We then were able to relocate the recently reported common redpoll at the same location, another targeted rarity and a lifer for me. This cooperative redpoll gave us all good looks while foraging in a parking lot with a flock of goldfinches.
From Fort Smallwood we headed to Fort Armistead where we got a brief view of the male Harlequin Duck under the Key Bridge. Unfortunately a kayaker spooked the birds shortly after we arrived but everyone got at least a brief view.
We then headed to Hunt Valley Town Centre for the continuing Black-headed gull that was not present on our first visit but miraculously appeared after we had lunch and returned to the parking lot. More photos were taken of this cooperative bird.
One last stop was for the Tufted Duck at Kent Narrows but we did not have any luck with this with only a few scaup present on the east side of the Inn behind the construction equipment.
After finishing the trip at 3:15 in Easton, I headed down to the Choptank Bridge and was able to relocate the female Barrow�s Goldeneye between the two bridges (as viewed from the Marina NW of the bridge since the gates to the fishing pier are now locked). The Barrow�s was out about 300 yards from shore but showed well in the sunlight.
Dave Palmer
Easton
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