I had a great morning at Swan Creek (northern Anne Arundel County) this morning. Although shorebirds were low in number, there was a nice assortment of shorebirds and waders down in the wetland area. Highlights included three flyover Glossy Ibis. The birds flew/drifted around the wetlands several times, coming quite low over the dike two or three times. But, they never set down, and flew off towards the water where I lost them. Also present were three adult Little Blue Herons, eight Great Blue Herons, and one Snowy Egret. Also of note were four Least Terns foraging over the wetlands and water near the dike. The birds were actively foraging most of the time I was in the wetlands, diving, calling, and at times carrying food.
Shorebirds included small numbers of Least Sandpipers (probably fewer than 30), a handful of Semipalmated Sandpipers, one Semipalmated Plover, one Killdeer, two or three Solitary Sandpipers, and four or five Spotted Sandpipers. Lots of swallows worked the wetlands and the south cell. Most of which were Barn Swallows, but I also had Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and a few Purple Martins. Tim, who works in the office, also saw Bank Swallows. Another highlight was when a Sora called from the wetlands, which Tim and I both heard.
And, also of note was a Cistothorus wren in the cattails near the dike. I only saw the bird briefly as it moved furtively among the vegetation, and it never came out into the open. Views were brief and obstructed. It was probably a Marsh Wren, but it appeared fairly pale and washed out in my brief glimpses. I tried to get better views of the bird for 20 minutes or so, but it never came out into the open again or vocalized. The wind was really blowing strongly at this point, so I figured my chances were pretty slim for seeing or hearing the bird again. Good birding,
Fred Shaffer
<GlaucousGull...>
Crofton, Anne Arundel
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