Date:         Sat, 20 Sep 2003 17:16:48 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Walter Ellison <rossgull@CROSSLINK.NET>
Subject:      Skimmers at Eastern Neck
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Hi Everybody,

We went down to Eastern Neck Island today in lieu of the National = Wilidlife Refuge's thoroughly weather-cursed Big B butterfly event. = Quite a contrast to the last two windy days, still and a bit muggy. Not = alot around, it's evident that much of the island was flooded for a time = in yesterday's tidal surge up the Bay.

The best find of our outing was an adult and juvenile BLACK SKIMMER = coursing around and skimming Eastern Neck Narrows a number of times from = 1:00 to 1:30 PM. At the end of the sighting the birds crossed to the = Chester River side of the Narrows and appeared to be headed in the = general direction of Queenstown. Other birds at the Refuge included 9 = Bald Eagles, a migrating young Northern Harrier, a male Merlin (also = heading south), a Royal Tern, 4 Caspian Terns, and two Snowy Egrets. We = had 113 other Caspian Terns around the county today including 76 at the = John Hanson Rd aeration pond. Also at John Hanson Rd were 4 Ruddy Ducks, = 4 Green-winged Teal, and 150 shovelers. The eclipse drake Lesser Scaup = remains on Great Oak Pond. Things should be interesting for tomorrow's = Fall Count.

Good Birding,

Walter Ellison
23460 Clarissa Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail: rossgull@crosslink.net

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B. = White (in "Stuart Little")

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