Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 15:34:26 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Marshall Iliff Subject: Re: Tips on Looking for Isabel Birds MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi all, I am watching Isabel closely from California and hoping that she does not wreak too much destruction in Maryland and that those birders that pursue storm-tossed vagrants do so safely. Of course, I am also fascinated to learn what birders discover in the storm, and I would like to add a few comments to Jim's. STORMS and BIRDS -- A few things to know about hurricanes will help. I am assuming an eye track from Cape Hatteras past Kerr Reservoir and then over Allegany County (Friday morning) and on to eastern Lake Erie (Friday evening). This means that winds on Thursday winds will be consistently easterly, as the eye passes to the west of most of the state they will shift to southerly, and then once the eye has passed will quickly become westerly. Seawatches should take this into account and realize that easterly winds will pin birds against the WESTERN shore of the Bay, westerly winds along the EASTERN shore. Thus, if possible, a seawatch from Kent Island, Tilghman Island, or Hooper Island on Friday might be better than one at North Beach. Remember though that the (north) eastern shore of the Potomac might be as productive (or even more productive, since the river is narrower than the Bay and more birds may be visible and identifiable). The birdier sections of stroms have historically been the EASTERN side, or especially the NORTHEASTERN quadrant. The reasons for this are unclear. If the storm's eye passes through Frostburg, Allegany County, conventional wisdom suggests that Rocky Gap, Triadelphia, and Liberty Reservoirs will be more productive than Deep Creek Lake and Broadford Reservoir. The eye may very well be the most productive portion of the storm, but it is also the most dangerous portion. If the eye passes over Allegany County, then Rocky Gap could be incredible. The eye of Fran (Sep 1996) passed very nearly over Kerr Res, VA, and deposited Sooty (many), Arctic, Sandwich, Royal, Common, Forster's terns, Sabine's Gull, both pelagic phalaropes, Cory's and Audubon's shearwaters, Black-capped Petrels, a HERALD PETREL, and a FEA'S PETREL!!! BIRD BEHAVIOR, DAY BY DAY 1) Birds can appear hundreds of miles in advance of the eye of the storm, and I would be surprised if the first Sooty Terns (see below) do not appear today. On Thursday, birds may be moving northward in the easterly or southeasterly winds. Seawatches along the Bay shore, Potomac River, or immeidate coast are likely to be productive. Ocean City would probably be a bad choice though, given safety concerns and a likely storm surge. The Bay would be a safer choice that would probably be as productive. 2) On Friday, observers should select a location and be there AT DAWN. It is clear that many of the best storm birds move out immediately and that within a few hours the vagrant potential of a passing hurricane will be much reduced. Even those birding inland lakes should strive to arrive before dawn. Sooty Terns, tubenoses, Sabine's Gulls, shorebirds, and all other potential storm birds may just drop in for a matter of minutes. It is essential to be there at dawn to have a reasonable shot at success. On Friday afternoon, it might pay to check a river or the Bay shore where birds may be trying to return to the ocean. Any site along the Bay, Potomac, or Susquehanna Rivers is likely to be worth setting up a seawatch. 3) On Saturday, the storm will have passed and the best birding will be done. However, it would still pay to bird likely areas, and many storm-blown birds have been found the day (or even several days) after the storm. This would be the day to drive throughout the Piedmont or mountains checking every potential reservoir quickly for any birds that may have lingered. Injured or extremely tired birds (think Sabine's Gull...) could be hanging around. Pay attention to any dead or road-killed birds -- they could even be Black-capped Petrels! An alternate strategy would be to set up a seawatch along any conduit routes for birds returning to the ocean. I think an all-day watch along the Potomac or Susquehanna Rivers would be very likely productive. The Susquehanna especially may be a good choise since birds deposited in inland PA late on Friday may still be streaming back towards the coast via the river. 4) During Fran, some tubenoses (Cory's Shearwaters in particular) remained at Kerr Reservoir for a couple days after the storm. Most other birds had headed out by the day after the storm, but the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel was good the day after the storm. Don't expect birds to stay on reservoirs (or in the Upper Bay) for more than a day, but it might be worth checking anyways. STRATEGY -- I would also encourage observers (on Friday) to select a location and stay there. For starters, you don't want to be driving around in a hurricane, but also, patience pays in these storms. Since many birds may stay for only a few minutes, it would do little good to chase around the state checking various inland bodies of water, while birds are coming and going at each. For those who try to bird the storm, I would recommend picking a location, being there at dawn, and staying through at least noon. LOCATION -- Jim suggested some good locations for looking for strom-tossed birds, and I would like to add to his comments slightly. Today, Thursday, would be a great day to seawatch at the coast or the Bay shore. Jim's North Beach seawatch would be complimented by observations in Saint Mary's County (at or near Pt. Lookout, depending on storm surge and safety issues). My top choice for Western Shore locations by county are as follows: HARFORD -- Lapidum Landing, as Jim suggested. Your car or the bathrooms would be the only shelter. CECIL -- Mt. Zoar Rd. at the Susquehanna River. There may be sheletered viewing from the railroad tunnel or from your car in the parking lot by the river BALTIMORE -- Either Loch Raven Reservoir or Fort Howard. Both would be excellent choices...Shaleter may not be ideal at either location. ANNE ARUNDEL -- Sandy Point, productive in Fran, is a good choice. There is some evidence that storm birds (especially tubenoses, NOT terns) do not like to cross bridge spans. Thus, Upper Bay birds may get trapped at the Bay Bridge while trying to move south. Sandy Point bathrooms provide good shelter. I might also try Bay Ridge, which has a very good view and a seawatch can be set up from the car with a window mount (parking not necessarily legal, but you are unlikely to be troubled). An advantage here is elevation -- you are some 50+ ft above the Bay. CALVERT -- North Beach SAINT MARY'S -- Point Lookout would be ideal but may not be safe or accessible. Saint George Island may be a better bet, especially when winds become westerly after the passage of the storm. CHARLES -- Cobb Island or the Rte. 301 bridge, the latter may have better shelter. Consider also Virginia viewpoints like Colonial Beach, or Belle Haven (opposite Prince George's) -- remember the waters off these locatiosn are largely Maryland. PRINCE GEORGE'S -- Any Potomac River viewpoint, especially in Virginia. HOWARD -- Triadelphia Reservoir is the obvious choice, but the best viewing option would be from your car at the end of the Greenbridge boat ramp. The Dam will be very exposed. Smaller lakes (e.g., in Columbia) could be productive as well, for brief stopover birds (including Sooty Tern, maybe). MONTGOMERY -- See above for Triadelphia, Black Hills would be just as good, with best viewing from the parking lots at the bridge. Any Potomac River viewpoint would be an excellent choice as well...I am not sure which would provide the best shelter. Avoid standing under trees that might fall! CARROLL -- Piney Run and Liberty Reservoirs, both of which should be viewable from your car at least. WASHINGTON and FREDERICK -- Potomac River is the best bet. Shelter may be a significant issue ALLEGANY -- Rocky Gap is a location I've always wanted to bird in a hurricane, and I think it may be one of the better choices in the state for several re asons. 1) The storm track may have the eye pass right over. 2) The bathrooms area and hotel both provide sheltered viewing of the reservoir that will be safe and comfortable from whatever wind direction. 3) The beach may provide a roosting area for gulls, terns, etc... 4) Even a storm-tossed Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, or Sandwich Tern would be a great rarity there, as would be many shorebirds. 5) Other than the (relatively small here) Potomac, there are very few other bodies of water in the area. The Terminus in Cumberland is another place to check, but I would make my morning stand at Rocky Gap. GARRETT -- Deep Creek Lake is an obvious choise, but birds on the lake may be segmented by the bridges and could disappear in arms of the lake and never be seen again. Counting birds would be hard here. I bird from the lee of buildings overlooking the widest portion of the lake between Thayerville and the Rte. 219 bridge. Better than Deep Creek may be to bird from your car the boat ramps on either the MD or West Virginia sides of Jennings-Randolph Reservoir. Your sightings would be significant in two states, you'd be along the Potomac, and while this reservoir is typically poor for birds (ducks, grebes, loons, gull etc...) in migration, it could be very different in a hurricane. Eastern Shore sites would be riskier (since it is lower lying and flooding may be more widespread). I would not encourage a visit to Ocean City, especially after the storm when winds are westerly. On Friday afternoon or Saturday a seawatch from Eastern Shore access points to the Bay would be productive. Hooper's Island, Tilghman Island, Kent Island, and Eastern Neck NWR are the obvious choices. SPECIES -- I'll send a separate post with species predictions. If I had come home (I strongly considered it) I'd have started at dawn at Rocky Gap and seawatched there until noon. If it had slowed down by then, I'd have driven to the Bay (if driving conditions permitted) and finished with a Kent Island seawatch under the westerly winds. On Saturday I'd have seawatched in the morning along the Susquehanna (Lapidum) and then checked Maryland's reservoirs such as Loch Raven, Liberty, Tridaelphia, Piney Run etc... For those that chase storm birds, enjoy and BE SAFE!!! Best, Marshall Iliff miliff@aol.com *********************** Marshall Iliff miliff@aol.com Costa Mesa, CA ************************ ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================