Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 18:38:17 -0600 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: marty cribb Subject: Smith Island Sightings MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello Everyone, Still waiting for the first OSPREY here on the Island and am very jelous of the folks that have seen them already. To me the migrant TYNDRA SWANS and the OSPREY'S return from warmer climes signifies SPRING. With the beautiful weather here today I spent most of the day running back and forth between the Island and Crisfield moving school children and oil barges but I did get the opportunity to get very close looks at NORTHERN GANNETTS (7) all adult plumage. They were actively feeding in Tangier Sound. They ignored the boat and the barge we were towing and several times were actually sitting in the water 20' from us. Wonderful color and the best looks I have had for many years. Each day on the Island more activity with the colonial nesters, the GREAT BLUE HERONS have staked out territory and are on sentry duty looking for mates. I expect to see any day the other waders that nest here to start showing up. Yesterday evening I did observe 1 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flying off the roost with a group of 10 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS. This coming Saturday the 17th of March is the 1st trip of the season for the Ocean City Princess and before I became an active birder I was a regular in the early spring trying to catch Boston Mackeral as they migrated up the Atlantic coast. I am planning on taking the opportunity to see what pelagic birds are out there. No gurantees but may be interesting for possible ATLANTIC PUFFIN, RAZORBILLS, MURRES etc.. I would like to see some other birders also I think it would be a great time. The cost is very reasonable at only $40.00. The boat leaves at 7AM from the Shanty Town Marina. This is a fishing boat obviously so there are some limitations. Good Birding, Marty Cribb, Smith Island, Md =20 ========================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ========================================================================= ===========================================================================