Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 20:18:47 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: I blew off work and went birding... Greetings: Monday I blew off work and decided to do a bit birding. My day started at work, (of all places) Perry Point, Cecil County. Here I mainly targeted waterfowl and I was not disappointed. Finding: Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Black Duck, American Widgeon, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, American Coot, D.C. Cormorant, and Canada Goose. As well as at least 6 Belted Kingfishers. My next stop took me up and around the head of the bay to Turkey Point. On the way, I stopped by my house (Hance's Point, N.E.) and chanced upon a pair of first winter Laughing Gulls circling the mud flats in front of my house. Hance's Point is at least 15 miles north of any discernable salt water. Consequently, I dont see too many Laughing Gulls on the Norht East River. In fact, this was new to my yard list! Anyway- off to Turkey Point and to the Hawk Watch. I arrived at the Hawk Watch at 9:30 Am after a short walk through the serenading White-throated Sparrows, Kinglets, and other usuall woodland suspects. Once at the Hawk Watch boredom set in quickly. An hour went by and nary a raptor had been scene. So I abandonded the Hawk Watch and headed out to the point. There I was greeted by a large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers (all Myrtles) and at least a dozen Palm Warblers, (7 western & 5 Eastern). It was also here that I caught my first raptors of the day 1 Peregrin and 1 Cooper's Hawk. Gulls noted ovedr the bay were Laughing, Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed, as well as Forster's Tern. I left the point and headed back to the Hawk Watch where I was surprised by at least 2500 Robins mixed with hundreds of Eastern Bluebirds, a few Cerder Waxwings, Blue Jays, Northern Flicker and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS! 4 males and 3 females Rusty Blackbird were seen in one Dogwood tree. It sure was a relief to see some (any) birds in number. I packed up after noting an addition Peregrin and some Tree Swallows over head. During my hike out, I noticed hundreds upon hundreds of Robin-like birds pushing due South (birds are definaty on the move!). Leaving MD now and heading to Bombay Hook. I know this is not a Delaware board so I wont elaborate on Bombay. I will say that the impoundments are all full of water they are also all full of Snow Goose! I saw many blue morph Snow Goose. However no Ross's or other rarities were noted. The Avocets are still in the first pool. Many Harriers were noted in the park also. Ducks are in good number too with Gadwall, N. Pintails and Green- winged Teals being in highest numbers. -A couple intresting side notes about Delaware. To get to BHNWR I took Route 9 south out of Port Penn along the way I noted hundreds of mixed Killdeer and Dunlin in the plowed fields. I also saw approximatley 5000 Red- winged Blackbirds (all male) flock (swarming) in one field. It was a very erie spectacle. Total Species noted were 71. Sparrows: (low numbers and varieties) Song, Swamp, White-throated, D.E. Junco Waterfowl: Canada Goose, Snow Coose, Mallard, Black Duck, Wood Duck, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Blue-winged teal, Green-Winged Teal, N. Shovler, N. Pintail, Ruddy Duck, D.C. Cormorant, & American Coot Most notable: Rusty Blackbird (Turkey Point), Ring-necked Pheseant(BHNWR) Have a good Day! -Chris Starling North East, MD ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================