Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 10:00:53 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Mike Callahan Subject: Downy Ocean Birds MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Everyone, I have just returned from spending part of the Spring Break downy Ocean Pines and visited OC as well. On Friday (April 21)there was nothing but gulls, tern, and cormorants at the OC Inlet. However I did see my first American Oystercatchers of the year at the shore on the west end of the US 50 (Harry Kelly) Bridge. Also saw my first Willets in wet fields nearby off of US 50 next to the shopping outlets. At dusk I had an exciting encounter with an Eastern Screech Owl on Wednesday, April 19. I was cleaning up around the backyard pond that we had been cleaning up all day, when both a screech owl and I startled each other. I was walking down the steps which are less than 20 feet from a maple tree that has been home to Flicker and Starling before, when an owl flew from the tree with the cavity. I did not see it until it let out its alarm call . The call startled me because it was so close above my head. I immediately called back to verify I had seen a ESOW, and sure enough it was. I got my reply from the owl as proof. Lots of Glossy Ibis flying in formation all around the shore between Berlin, MD and Kiptopeake, VA. Several Common Loons in full breeding plumage, a few Eared Grebes in breeding plumage and several Brown Pelicans flying along the Bay at Kiptopeake State Park. Naturally, Mike Callahan ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================