Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 17:07:36 -0600 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: marty cribb Subject: oc inlet to rehoboth and in between MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Everyone, Took the opportunity to go off this weekend in hopes offinding the TUFTED DUCK at Silver/Spring Lake in Rehoboth and alsore-acquaint myself with some favorite spots around the Ocean City area.Alas the TUDU was nowhere to be found , however had decent looks at analbino or leucistic RUDDY DUCK at Siver Lake. The only color I could seein this bird was what I thought to be stains from feeding around theneck and head area. Now on to the excellent time I had viewing MARYLANDBirds. 25+ PURPLE SANDPIPERS at the OC Inlet. The birds were on bothjettys at low tide Sunday Feb 4th. Along with the PUSA were 15+ RUDDYTURNSTONE many showing early signs of fresh plumage. Along with the PUSAand RUTU were 50+ SANDERLING. Other highlights were 3 RED-THROATED LOONon Saturday afternoon along with 10-15 BONAPARTES GULL. I was alsopleasantly surprised to see 25+ AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER many with veryfresh plumage and the contrast between different plumaged birds wasstriking. 100+ Brant at the sandy islands just north of the Rt 50 Bridgeon Sunday again at low tide. I did not see these birds on Saturday athigh tide. 35+ BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER at two locations, Eagles LandingCampground (behind the Eagles Landing Golf Course off MD Rt 611 in WestOcean City) and again at the sandy islands north of the Rt 50 Bridge.SAND were on every bit of exposed beach and mudflat wherever you lookedand I stopped counting but suspect I observed well over 200 birdsSaturday and Sunday. All in all a very interesting and relaxing timethis weekend, I had the opportunity to meet many other MDOSPREY folksfrom all over the area including 2 friends from St Marys Co Doug & LisaLister and their son Gus. Almost forgot the most striking bird I sawthis weekend were 9 drake and 1 hen HARLEQUIN DUCK at the north side ofthe south jettty at the OC inlet at low tide Sunday morning. Lots ofsquabbling and displaying by the drakes and the hen just continued tofeed and preen. The light was perfect so had best ever views. GoodBirding, Marty Cribb, Smith Island, Md. PS I did not see the hen KINGEIDER Saturday nor Sunday. =20 ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================