Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 19:06:07 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Progress on target birds Hi all -- Thought some might be interested in how we are coming along in finding some of my brother-in-law's target birds. John and his wife Doreen are visiting us from Sussex, England. Today, we went to Jug Bay and vicinity. It was windy and cold but also sunny and dry, better than predicted in other words! We met Danny Bystrak at the headquarters and went out on the RR Trail. After some looking, we managed to get reasonable views of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, about 20 of them, near the end of the boardwalk. From the marsh we watched a PEREGRINE harass the gulls, and two BALD EAGLES and a NORTHERN HARRIER added some spice. The woods were fairly quiet, but John saw his life GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, close views. The fields yielded White-throated Sparrows but no hoped-for Fox or Tree. John and Doreen enjoyed views of Bluebirds and American Kestrel, not new but always nice to see close up. Then to the little pond near the Brown's Station Landfill, where we had hoped-for HOODED MERGANSERS, as well as Ring-necked Neck and a LESSER BLACK- BACKED GULL, and a few lingering Laughing Gulls. Raptors seen included Sharpshinned Hawk and another Harrier, Schoolhouse Pond had Shoveler and Gadwalll, but unfortnately no White Pelican. We went home and had lunch, then in late afternoon visited Layhill Park, where we added Field Sparrow and saw a Fox Sparrow only briefly -- not really good enough to tick. It was pretty windy so hopefully we will do better tomorrow in the sparrow department. Thanks to everyone for their help -- still looking for Saw-whet Owl and the elusive Evening Grosbeaks! ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================