Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 22:07:43 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Arlene Ripley Subject: OC Inlet/possible Common Murre Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed While at Ocean City inlet this afternoon (3/5) I observed the following: At the mouth of the inlet, about 100 yards off of the seawall was a bird that puzzled me. It had all of the characteristics of a winter Common Murre. I have seen many of these on the West Coast, but never in the east. What struck me was the short neck, chunky pure white body and jet black back, wings and head and neck. The chin and side of the face was white but there was a distinct black line running through the eye area and extending along the side of the face somewhat parallel to the top of the head. The bill was pointed and black. The bill seemed a bit thicker than I would have expected for a Common Murre but the facial pattern did not fit Thick-billed Murre. I did not have stellar looks at all of the features as it was so windy I had to hold on to my scope the whole time, lest it become one with the sea. The bird was actively diving and when I returned with my camera, I couldn't relocate it. I doubt photos would have turned out as the light was poor and water so choppy. The bird was constantly moving. I am posting this so others can be on the lookout for this bird and would appreciate any input on a possible ID other than Common Murre. There were also three Red-throated Loons, a half dozen or so Common Loons, American Oystercatchers, many Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings. The light was horrible farther out from the inlet and the only ducks I could manage to ID were the Oldsquaw because I could make out their tails. Everything else was too far away and in the glare of the sun. Two Northern Gannets were also observed at the limit of my scope. ////// Arlene Ripley | || Calvert County, MD | 0 || aripley@nestbox.com | || http://www.nestbox.com || ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================