Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 03:17:53 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Norm Saunders Subject: Re: RFI Somerset Co. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Louis Nielsen asks: > I'm taking a two day wander to the eastern shore and would like to know if > anyone out there has any recommended "hot spots" to get a good dose of birds > in Somerset County. The only place I've birded is the rest stop on Rt. 13., > which is pretty thin birdwise. Check out the Deal Island marshes. The road into Deal Island heads west off Rt. 13 near Princess Anne. Check a DeLorme for the route number. Once the marsh opens out around you (quite reminiscent of the Everglades), watch for a gravel turnoff on the left (there is a DNR sign there as I recall). The gravel road runs into the marsh and allows lots of opportunities for viewing as well as access to dikes for extensive hiking possibilities. This is one of the most reliable areas in Maryland (ar at least used to be) for Black-necked Stilt. The MOS Irish Grove Sanctuary (on Rumbly Point Road--check a DeLorme) is in Somerset County, good seafood is to be had in Crisfield, and boat trips out to Smith Island run from Crisfield. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Somerset is probably one of Maryland's most under-birded counties. Good luck! Norm Saunders Colesville & West Ocean City, MD marshhawk@att.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================