Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 07:45:45 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Scott Crabtree Subject: Surf Scoters, and a Baywatch MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable First a quick mention of the eight surf scoters in Queen Anne's County = on Sunday, 6 June. I spotted them from the public boat landing just = south of the Horseland Wetland Center. Four of them were in adult = breeding plumage. On the 4th, I tried a Baywatch from Hooper's Island, in southern = Dorchester County. I reasoned that such a spot, with a good view to the = south into the open Chesapeake, might give the opportunity to see a = Wilson's Storm Petrel or other interesting birds. (I've seen them from = the Smith Island ferry, but didn't want to make that trip.) Of course, the more I reason out where I might find birds, the less luck = I have, and that was the case Friday, dipping on the petrel, although at = first glance, and purple martin skimming the waters can put you in mind = of a storm petrel and get the pulse going! But I spent three pleasant = hours scanning the bay and finding the usual: d-c cormorant, brown = pelican, and great blue herons perched on the fishing nets way out. = Great black-backed, herring, and laughing gulls. Royal, common, = Forster's, and least terns. While it's a long way to Hooperville, it's a pleasant and birdy drive, = and there's a picnic pavilion directly opposite the public boat landing = there with shade, picnic tables, a port-a-potty, and unobstructed views = into the bay. A very nice place to grill bratwurst and eat cole slaw on = the 4th. Scott Crabtree Chester, MD crabtree@myshorelink.com =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D =========================================================================