Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 11:40:10 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Paul O'Brien Subject: GWHE YES But Apologies to Jim Stasz MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The Great White Heron flew in from the west and landed in the Ft. McHenry wetland this morning at 9:11. It dropped into the gut that runs east-west and so was out of sight for the four or five birders who walked up a minute or so later. We tried to go out the trail that runs along the west edge of the wetland so we could look down the gut, but the gate was locked. We then discussed walking out on the rocks along the east edge. I led the way with scope and back pack and picked my way slowly to the end of the gut, keeping the Phragmites as a blind. It was only then that I realized that all the other birders had turned back (because of the difficult rock-climbing) except for one gentleman from the San Juan Islands of Washington State. We could see through the Phragmites, but the Heron was not in sight. In a moment or so it stepped out in the open and we were able to view it fairly well through the Phragmites. As Marshall had noted, the bill was pale yellow except for the basal half of the culmen, which was dusky. The legs were grayish with a hint of yellowish pink (buff is what Marshall called it). The head feathers looked scruffy and somewhat jagged, but I saw no plumes of any kind. At that point I decided to try taking some photographs. We pulled back some of the nearer Phragmites, but just then a gust of wind separated the remaining Phragmites, exposing our position. The bird saw us and took off to the south across the water to the cove under the "Overflo" sign, apparently just moments before Jim Stasz showed up. As Jim correctly pointed out, it was early in the day and we should have simply waited for the Heron to make its way to a point where birders could see it from the bluff. I take full resposibility for causing the bird to flush and I apologize sincerely to Jim. Lesson learned, but unfortunately at Jim's expense. Never again. Paul O'Brien Rockville, Mont. Co., MD pobrien776@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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================