Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 21:36:52 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Assateague SP & mystery loon I camped at Assateague State Park with my son this weekend and was able to see many neat birds, plus a mystery loon. I was able to do most of my birding on Saturday. The beach at Assateague had a large number of flyby Common Loons, most of which were heading north. Also present were a large number of Gannets fairly close to shore. Gulls consisted of Great Black Backed, Herring, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls. Shorebirds included Killdeer, Sanderlings, Dunlin, and Willets. Waders seen included Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, and 1 Glossy Ibis. There was a HUGE whalebone washed up on the beach. I understand from a zoology friend on the trip that it is rear part of the skull. Long lines of Scoters flew over the ocean. However, the most productive time was at the causeway, at the state park boat launch. A breeding plumage Common Loon fished nearby. Red Breasted Mergs and Brant were also present. Surf Scoters were further out in the bay, along with Bufflehead and Horned Grebes. But, perhaps most interesting bird was a mysterious loon in the Bay. It was smaller than the nearby Common Loon, with a less heavy bill. It was in winter or juvenile plumage. The back was very dark, a charcoal black. It seemed much darker than a winter Red Throated Loon. The white on the throat and faced was well-defined from the black on the head and back of neck (an obvious, well defined line), and it lacked the white "indentation" usually seen with Common Loons. The bird that best fits what I saw was a winter Pacific Loon, but I was unable to see a chin strap. I would appreciate it if anybody in the area keeps their eyes out for this bird. It was in the bay and I saw it from the boat lauch at Assateague State Park (on the west side of Assateague Bay). I saw it Saturday afternoon around 3 PM, but didn't get back till late this afternoon from the camping trip to post. Fred Shaffer Patuxent Bird club fshaffer3@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 ======================================================================= =========================================================================