Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 18:36:24 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Arlene Ripley Subject: some Calvert sightings Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Visited Flag Ponds Nature Park this morning to check salamander traps and did a little birding for about an hour. Two pair of EASTERN PHOEBES were seen along lower North Ridge trail along with a BROWN CREEPER, FOX SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, SONG SPARROWS AND DARK-EYED JUNCOS. As I walked I was serenaded by the song of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. WOOD DUCKS, AMERICAN WIDGEONS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, GADWALLS AND GREEN-WINGED TEALS can still be found on Richardson's Pond. A single PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen on Duncan's Pond along with a pair of MUTE SWANS that are nest-building. I wish this were not the first sign of nesting I've noticed in the park. Only a pair of KILLDEER were found on the beach along with some SONG SPARROWS. A lone NORTHERN GANNET was seen far out in the bay. All of the sea ducks were very far out but I could make out LONG-TAILED, BUFFLEHEAD, SCAUP sp., HORNED GREBE and at least 9 COMMON LOONS in the water. A flock of 25 BONAPARTE'S GULLS accompanied a few RING-BILLED AND HERRING. One OSPREY sailed overhead. I then headed down to Solomons to look for Sue's WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. It was not across from the Tiki Bar but I eventually found it at the end of Williams Ave. (just around the corner from the Tiki Bar). I could not see any white on the face which made me think it was an adult female. It was actively preening and the white wing patch was easily seen. I started to set up my camera to take some digiscope photos when it paddled around the pilings and out of sight. There were also two AMERICAN COOTS at this spot. A single PIED-BILLED GREBE was see in the cove next to the Catholic church just past the marine museum. On the home front (Dunkirk), PURPLE FINCHES (3) and FOX SPARROWS (2) continue at my feeders. Today the first CHIPPING SPARROW arrived. Can the Yellow-throated Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrushes be far behind? Arlene Ripley Calvert County, MD piwa@earthlink.net http://nestbox.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================