Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 03:53:08 +0000 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Hans Holbrook Subject: worchester 2/15 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Sunday the 15th, Jim Brighton and I made the trek up Assateague Island to the inlet. About a mile up the beach Jim spotted a BLACK-HEADED GULL feeding in the breaking surf working its way south. It was almost the exact spot we saw one with my dad just over two years ago. We worked our way up the shoreline to make optimum time to reach the inlet and then be able to take our time back to the car. In route I found a 2 dead Razorbills, one 1st year and one adult, also another large unidentifiable partialy consumed alcid. We watched a Peregrine Falcon and a Harrier in an incredible dog fight for several minutes. It was great to see these two raptors use their different flight styles to fight for air supremecy. The inlet hosted birds covered in several other posts, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 2 Razorbills, 7 Common Eiders. On the beach behind the jetty there was a young Common Loon hauled out, soaking wet, it was sure to expire. On the walk back we took the bayside, 17 Ipswich Sparrow, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 1 PIPING PLOVER on the flats across from Eagles Nest, and 2 TREE SWALLOW(could this be a sign of spring???). Thanks to Bob Ringler we easily picked up the Eurasian Wigean at the golf course and the White-fronted Goose at the Berlin sewage ponds. Thanks again Bob, and to whoever found these birds. The goose turned out to be my only county bird for the day. Good Birding, Hans Holbrook Burtonsville, MD _________________________________________________________________ Watch high-quality video with fast playback at MSN Video. Free! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200365ave/direct/01/ ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================