Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 08:57:54 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Scott Crabtree Subject: Re: Storm-Petrels on the Bay MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" To follow up on Bob's post, I got the idea for this mini-pelagic from Greg Miller's posting last year, and decided it might be a good "try-out" for the Baltimore Bird Club's schedule. The intent was to maximize our chances to see Wilson's Storm-petrel, and based on the experience of others, we were VERY lucky to have had a close approach to the fishing boats who were either chumming or cleaning. The WISPs were flying their swallow-like flight around this source of food, and allowed pretty good views of the extent of the white rump, the brown-on-black wing markings, and the wing shape. The other fly-bys were very, I mean very quick views, usually only seen by a few. If anyone wants to try this out for themselves, more info about the ferry can be had at: http://www.smithislandcruises.com If you're interested in taking a group, email bettyjotyler@aol.com to let them know you're bringing a group. There is a discount if your numbers are over 15. Once on the island, rented golf carts are the way to get around, and the salt marches south of town were ripe with great views of all the nesting birds. Cheers; Scott Crabtree Baltimore, MD -----Original Message----- From: Robert Ringler [mailto:ringler@QIS.NET] Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2001 7:41 PM To: MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM Subject: [MDOSPREY] Storm-Petrels on the Bay Yesterday, 6/23/01, I joined the Baltimore Bird Club for a Smith Island cruise from Point Lookout led by Scott Crabtree with about 18 people. About 3 miles east of the point we encountered our first Wilson's Storm-Petrel. Later, at the Middle Ground, where there were a half dozen fishing boats we saw about 7 more storm-petrels hanging out with the fishermen. We saw one more about a mile east of there flying NE. Only one was seen on the return trip with thunderstorms in the area. The birds at Smith Island were as expected with more Brown Pelicans than I have seen there before. Bob Ringler Eldersburg, Md ringler@qis.net ======================================================================To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ====================================================================== ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================