Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 21:56:18 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Chesapeake Beach Seaside Sparrow I got the chance to go birding this morning in Piscataway Park (Prince George's County) in the vicinity of Mockley Point. The birding was rather slow, but we enjoyed the beautiful weather and got great looks at a brilliant Prothonatary Warbler feeding in a large Willow Oak. Than, in a large field bordering the Potomac, we got a good view of a Savannah Sparrow, first in a bush, than on the ground, and than conveniently perched on a nearby picnic table. Other birds seen included several Osprey, 2 Caspian Terns, a lone male Canvasback, many Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Tree Swallows, and 1 distant Bald Eagle. Later, I got a pleasant surprise in Chesapeake Beach after eating dinner at the Rod and Reel. My family and I was on the beach just outside the restaurant and I got wonderful looks at an energetic Seaside Sparrow(!) hopping on the nearby rocks of the jetty and occasionally flying back and forth to the beach. It was the best look I had ever gotten of one of these sparrows, seeing clearly its yellow lores, white throat, and smudgy, grey breast. Plus, it was a life bird for my eight year old son, who recently started keeping a list. Other birds there included the resident (according to restaurant staff) Snow Goose, several Coots, an Osprey, Ring Billed Gulls, and a few House Sparrows. Fred Shaffer Crofton, MD Pamthept@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================