Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 21:07:07 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Stan Arnold Subject: Blackwater NWR & vicinity--7 Dec MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Folks, The Howard Co. Bird Club had a frigid, but very productive trip to Blackwater NWR (Dorchester Co.) and its vicinity today. Despite cold temps and high winds, activity was remarkably high, and we finished the outing with a tally of 71 species. Highlights of the day were GREAT EGRET, SHORT-EARED OWL, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, AMERICAN PIPIT, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. A rundown of the more significant sightings follows: Great Egret--1 at refuge Tundra Swan--15 flyovers, Choptank River (Talbot Co.) Am. Wigeon--5 at Oakley St., Cambridge N. Pintail--100s at refuge N. Shoveler--dozens at refuge Green-winged Teal--one or two dozen at refuge Ring-necked Duck--5 at refuge Common Goldeneye--5, Choptank River Long-tailed Duck--2, Choptank River Bufflehead--1 at refuge Ruddy Duck--1 at Oakley St. Sharp-shinned Hawk--several on and near refuge Red-tailed Hawk--many; two were in charge of a deer carcass on Bucktown Rd. while vultures patiently stood by Am. Coot--1 at refuge Greater Yellowlegs--1 along Shorter's Wharf Rd. Dunlin--100 at refuge Forster's Tern--1 at refuge Short-eared Owl--3 at south end of marsh, Shorter's Wharf Rd. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker--1 by Marsh Edge Trail Horned Lark--25 along Egypt Rd. Brown-headed Nuthatch--4 along Marsh Edge Trail both kinglets along Marsh Edge Trail Hermit Thrush--1 along Marsh Edge Trail Am. Pipit--75 along Egypt Rd.; 20 along Greenbriar Rd.; a few along Key Wallace Dr. Fox Sparrow--2 along Marsh Edge Trail Swamp Sparrow--2 along Marsh Edge Trail E. Meadowlark--15 along Egypt Rd.; others on refuge Rusty Blackbird--4 (2m 2f) along DeCoursey Bridge Rd. We all had a great time despite the blustery wind. Stan Arnold Glen Burnie dy.dx@earthlink.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================