Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:09:59 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: leslie fisher Organization: cecil bird club Subject: Gull-billed Tern/Sandwich Tern etc. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi All: I arrived at EA Vaughn 9:30 this AM ( 6/9) and had all but given up the search for **GULL-BILLED TERN at 10:45 and decided to make one last scan of the south pond with the binos, and....found the suspect sitting on a partially weedy mud flat towards the south east end of the south pond, in the vicinity of a Semi-palm Sandpiper. However, when I got the scope on the area, it was not to be found, flown away or into concealment. A brief look, but better than nothing. **GLOSSY IBIS present, but no White-faced. Nice looks at TRI-COLOURED HERON. Oh, and a young SCREECH OWL perched in a nest box entrance. BOBWHITE calling. TICKS WERE PLENTIFUL AND HUNGRY!! When I reached to pluck one individual off, it actually JUMPED up my leg several inches before I got a death grip on it. At Skimmer Island in Ocean City I was able to locate a **SANDWICH TERN, (4 PM ) perched with a flock of Royals. On my 4th scan through, I saw the slender long black bill, yellow tip raised up in the air behind the Royals, then as I continued to watch was able to pick up a head view of the black nape/crest. Also present were **BROWN PELICAN, OYSTERCATCHER, BLACK SKIMMER, RUDDY TURNSTONE and **SNOWY EGRET( latter missed in Cecil this spring.). At Eagles Nest I got** LEAST TERN for the year. No Plover activity from the enclosure areas alas. The tide was getting highish at the time. At Assteague I got nothing new for MD/Worcester, but did enjoy watching PINE WARBLER feed a fledgling. WILLET were positively abundant. 84 sp. for day between EA Vaughn/Eagles Nest/Assateague Trails and Skimmer Island and of course those sp. seen/heard along the way. I may have to get ambitious and do a Worcester Co. list this year. **, new for year. Thanks to those who provided directions etc. Leslie Fisher Cecil Co. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================