Not to be deterred by the fog, I set out to boost my state totals for the year and was pleasantly surprised to hit almost all of my targets, fog or no fog!
SATURDAY:
Cabin Branch -- Struck out on the Redhead. Dense fog and distant ducks. Redemption follow.
Eastern Shore -- Heidi Trasatti, DJ Trasatti, and I saw the Tufted Duck at Kent Narrows and the Barrow's Goldeneye at Bill Burton Fishing Pier. We then went into Cambridge and saw 2 drake Redhead mixed in with several hundred Canvasback/Lesser Scaup and some American Wigeon at Oakley St.
Fort Howard -- We went to FH Park and immediately came upon a group of birders watching 5 White-winged Crossbills and 7 (we saw 4) Common Redpolls foraging with a large flock of American Goldfinches and Red-winged Blackbirds. A hen Common Goldeneye was a bonus county bird for me.
Taneytown -- After parting ways with Heidi and DJ, I met Richard Edden and his friends at Bullfrog Road where 2 Short-eared Owls put on a great show, featuring such maneuvers as dive-bombing a perched Red-tailed Hawk and chasing a Bald Eagle across the field. A 3rd owl was heard but not seen. The owls were visible at 5pm until we left (5:35ish).
49 species today.
SUNDAY:
Tim solo.
Assateague State Park -- The Northern Saw-whet Owl was awake and preening. I obtained a couple of photos and quickly left (<10 seconds total). 3 Red Crossbills flew over the traffic circle and I recorded them. Despite the fog, waterfowl were abundant and I had great looks at Brant, Pintail, Wigeon, Red-breasted Merganser, Surf Scoter, and Horned Grebe. However, the best bird was an adult Great Horned Owl that flew across the road near the Causeway at 11:22 in the morning. The clearest view I've ever had of one of these in the wild.
Assateague National Park -- Meanwhile, at the NP, Marcia and Bob Balestri found a Razorbill close to shore. I drove over immediately and quickly found the bird. Best $15 I ever spent!
Sunset Park/OC Inlet -- Nothing notable at SP (though I swear I heard both RB Nuthatch and Red Crossbill nearby), but the Inlet was full of birds. Didn't get Harlequin or Common Eider, but the "regular" waterfowl were abundant and close up. I also saw Purple Sandpipers across the inlet in the fog. A single Bonaparte's Gull was also nice.
West OC Pond -- 13 species of waterfowl including a single "Blue" Snow Goose mixed in with the Canadas.
Skimmer Island -- Lackluster, but 2 American Oystercatchers on an exposed sandbar west of the island were nice.
Newark, MD -- A massive flock of thousands of blackbirds (various species) along the road. Photographed the flock multiple times and need to review in case a Rusty was in there. I didn't stay long because I wanted to get to Truitt's ASAP, as the fog was really rolling in.
Truitt's Landing -- The fog made birding almost impossible, but I did get a flyover Northern Harrier, 3 Greater Yellowlegs, and 52 Green-winged Teal. I think I heard a Forster's Tern in the distance but didn't count it.
Back to OC for the West OC Park & Ride -- Fog was too thick to continue, but this looks like a potential hotspot.
74 species today.
Tim Carney
Baltimore/Anne Arundel
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