Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 17:57:43 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Sanford Subject: Summary of British Birder's Local Visit (preface) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit A number of you were following the adventures of visiting British birder, Tony Eveleigh, from May 2 to May 13, as reported by me, Steve Sanford, and Elliot Kirschbaum. His upcoming visit to Baltimore was announced by Marian Dodson on OSPREY, and he made other contacts. He stayed with his daughter on Charles Street in Baltimore by the Johns Hopkins University campus. He joined Elliot Kirschbaum, Gail Frantz, Marian Dodson, and me, Steve Sanford for birding in central Maryland, as well as one day on the Delaware coast with Elliot and Marian. The list is in a separate message Summary of British Birder's Local Visit (list) Some of the major locations visited were Soldiers Delight, Cromwell Valley Park, Milford Mill Park, Lake Roland, the Liberty Dam Trail, Fort McHenry (all in Baltimore County or City), various areas near Hampstead and Sykesville (Carroll County) and northern Baltimore County, Susquehanna State Park and Conowingo Dam (Harford), Bombay Hook, and other Delaware locations. Tony did some birding on his own near Hopkins and in the Great Falls area. All birding was done as day trips out of Baltimore. (No intense "Big Days" from midnight to midnight or other super-human efforts.) This was Tony's first visit to the United States so he had lots and lots of life-birds, which are marked with an asterisk. Interestingly, he had seen about 25% of the species at home in Britain, especially the shorebirds and ducks. Some of those are also common in Britain, but most are vagrants from North America. Tony seems to have carried a lucky charm because he got the vast majority of species that he could reasonably have hoped for on such a visit. Tony's final list follows. Many species contain comments about locations, etc. (separated by a "_" character). Interpretative notes are below the list, as well as information on animals and butterflies. It is a good snapshot of what birds are around in central Maryland and the Delaware coast in early May at the height of migration. -------------------------------------------------- THANK YOU NOTE (May 25, 2002): Dear Steve, Elliott, Gail and Marian, Firstly may I thank the Maryland Ornithological Society and the members for arranging to help me whilst on holiday. Please circulate to Karen Morley and members of the society. As promised I have listed below a check list of the species seen by myself and would appreciate any comments or amendments you feel necessary. I would like to thank you all for your kindness and friendship whilst I was in Maryland. Thank you team for your Herculean efforts in driving me all over Maryland and Delaware Bay to try and secure the maximum number of species during my visit, especially seeking endless birds by song and call: Your local knowledge to find special birds, your patience and enthusiasm with viewing common species and stamina for some long days in the field (one day from 6.30 AM to 9.00 PM) were greatly appreciated. Due to your combined efforts I came home with lifetime memories of beautiful Maryland with exotic birds everywhere. I thank you sincerely for helping me achieve a goal beyond my dreams, without you this would have not been possible. I landed safely and did view migrants on the journey home at my local nature reserve. Best regards Tony Eveleigh. ---------------------------------- Steve Sanford tanager@bcpl.net Randallstown MD Baltimore County ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================