Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 08:07:48 PST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: sue hamilton Subject: Re: Peregrines at Solomons Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Joel, You are the second person who has asked me about the bridge location, so I am going to post directions to all! sue hamilton -- Thomas Johnson Bridge: To reach Solomons, MD, from everywhere except St. Mary's County, take Route 4 South. As you approach Solomons, there will be signs advising you to keep to the left to cross the bridge to St. Mary's County. Stay in the right lane and take the access road to the boat ramp area. This area has plenty of parking, and a fishing pier, where you can take your scope for good viewing. This is the usual method of finding the falcons -- scan the bridge supports with your scope from the pier. However, on Saturday when I was there, Greg Miller and JB Churchill were also there birding. JB said he saw an owl, perhaps a barred, take off from the little woodsy/pond patch on shore, which he thought caused the two peregrines to circle and scream. There is also a kestrel in residence, hanging out in the small trees by the fence which goes around the contiguous field. I have only seen one redhead hanging about the pier (2/12 and 2/17), but Charlie has seen many more. When you have seen all you can from the pier and boat ramp area, follow the access road past the visitors center. You will be opposite the Calvert Marine museum, and, you will actually be in "Johnstown". Turn right on the road sometimes called Rte 2. In less than half a mile, you will cross a very small bridge onto Solomons Island. There is ample parking and a boardwalk for scanning the river, and counting our growing population of mute swans... (Check out the coots and mallards in the cove to the left, behind the JC Lore Oyster House. You never know what will be there!) Another good vantage point: follow the road all the way to the end, by the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. There are pull-off spots where you can scan the waterfowl there too. The museum cove, which is visible from the Calvert Marine Museum, has been hosting a small flock of canvasbacks, lesser scaup and ruddy ducks. Red-breasted mergansers visit often, too. sue hamilton > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================