Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 21:35:39 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fred Shaffer Subject: Short-eared Owl I went several places on the eastern shore today (Jan. 3). We missed the Black-headed Gull in Denton, although there appeared to be a pond that wasn't visible from behind the fence and it may have been there. Blackwater NWR was fairly quiet, but we did see several Bald Eagles (adults & immatures), many Eastern Bluebirds, Northern Pintails, Shovelers, thousands of Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, and some Snow Geese. The best stop was Shorter's Wharf Road at the end of the day, where just as the sun set a Short-eared Owl hunted actively over the marsh, at one point being very close to a Northern Harrier. Bald Eagles were also present, flocks of Geese and Swans, many Yellowlegs (they sounded mostly like Greater), and one flyover group of Wilson's Snipe. The sunset was spectacular over the marsh. Fred Shaffer Patuxent Bird Club glaucousgull1611@aol.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================