Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 06:10:46 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Stan Arnold Subject: RN Grebes, Dorchester Co., etc. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Folks, I spent the day on Sunday looking for Red-necked Grebes in the five counties of the lower Eastern Shore, and the results were less than stellar. Only Worcester and Dorchester counties produced the desired sightings, with dips in Somerset, Wicomico, and Talbot counties. Also struck out on the Clay-colored Sparrow on Evans Rd. There's still other interesting waterfowl around. Here's the rundown: Worcester Co.--Ocean City inlet--two Red-necked Grebes at the far end of the inlet, near the docked boats. Many birders from the previous day's pelagic were also there; Marshall Iliff also had a fly-by RN Grebe. I had a GREAT EGRET at Skimmer Island. JB Churchill and I spent a good hour walking Evans Road (SW of Berlin, Worcester Co.), and came up with six species of sparrow, none of which was a Clay-colored. Present were a jillion Savannahs, half a jillion Songs, a dozen White-crowns and about as many White-throats, about ten Fields, and a single Swamp. Somerset Co.--I accessed as much water as possible in the Crisfield area, coming up with Horned Grebe, Common Loon, C. Goldeneye, and Red-breasted Merg. I also checked Annemesex Ridge, Long Point, and several points around Mount Vernon, with mostly Buffleheads and Scaup found. Wicomico Co.--I checked multiple points along the Wicomico River, viz: from Mt. Vernon and Harrison Landing Rd. in Somerset Co., White Haven Ferry, Green Hill Rd., and Catchpenny Rd. I also checked the Nanticoke River from Vienna (there was nothing but fishermen). Cormorants and Lesser Scaup were the only waterbirds I found. Dorchester Co.--there were two RED-NECKED GREBEs at Madison, just west of Church Hill on Rte 16. Check open water just past the boat dock there. Thanks to Levin Willey for finding these birds, and Harry Armistead for passing the info to me. Also present were Horned Grebe, Scaup, Canvasback, and both swan species. Talbot Co.--I tried the bridge at Newcomb, just east of St. Michaels, where Les Roslund had RN Grebe, but I was not successful. However, a drake Long-tailed Duck under the bridge, and within 15 feet of me was interesting, and also present were Canvasback, Scaup, Goldeneye, RB Merganser, and a single Shoveler. I viewed limited waterfront in St. Michaels, but by then it was raining pretty steadily, so I called it a day. Stan Arnold Glen Burnie dy.dx@verizon.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================