Ocean City-Henlopen birds, 1/29
Gail Mackiernan (GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU)
Thu, 29 Jan 98 21:24:32 EST
Barry and I drove over to OC this morning, hoping for -- well, who knows
what? -- after the big coastal storm. Lots of water on the fields, went
through 100's of blackbirds on the way but best find were some Rusties.
At the West Ocean City Pond, a drake EURASIAN WIGEON was present with about
five American Wigeon, at the back in the SW corner.
High water, surf and lots of evidence of damage to the beach and to north
end of Assateague. At the inlet, about eight HARLEQUIN DUCKS, including two
nice drakes, four KING EIDERS, including two immature drakes, and estimated
20 (they were hard to count in the heavy surf) COMMON EIDERS, including two
or three drakes. PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a couple RED KNOTS were there, but a
remarkable absence of Cormorants, Bonepartes' Gulls, or other sea ducks.
Needless to say, no alcids either. 55 Oystercatchers were sitting rather
dejectedly on the breakwater, 4th Street Flats being mostly under water
(as was half of 4th Street.)
Indian River Inlet was pretty quiet, a GREAT CORMORANT on the jetty, but
little else of note, save a few Purple Sands and a few flocks of Dunlin.
Silver Lake is holding a lot of Canvasback and Lesser Scaup, with maybe
four REDHEADs and a few GREATER SCAUP here and there.
At Cape Henlopen State Park, there was a first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL on the
breakwater, observable from the Fishing Pier, as well as a number of Great
and D-C Cormorants. At the point, about a half-dozen IPSWICH SPARROWS and 40-50
SNOW BUNTINGS. We run out of time to look for Crossbills.
A beautiful, sunny day, completely windless -- and some nice birds to boot!
Cheers, Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
gail@umdd.umd.edu