Crossbills and Harlequin Ducks and eateries
Stephen G Sanford (tanager@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us)
Sun, 15 Feb 1998 18:50:02 -0500
I'm happy to see the latest crossbill reports, indicating they are still
alive and well.
I stopped by Pine Knob Rd around noon today (Sunday) and heard a small
flock fly over and settle in the pines on the south side of the road out
of sight for a few minutes. By sound, it could have been either species
or both. Later I went up to Gunpowder Rd, 0.5 mile north of
Beckleysville Rd in NW Balto Co, and saw 13 Red Crossbills fly over
closely.
So there's still hope for those who still need to see crossbills.
The Baltimore Bird Club field trip to the coast on Feb 14 had 11
Harlequin Ducks 2 Common Eiders (m & f), and great looks at Purple
Sandpipers and several Red Knots at Ocean City Inlet, and large rafts of
Canvasbacks and Lesser Scaup, plus a few Redheads at Silver Lake
(Rehobeth Beach). Cape Henlopen was rather slow with no crossbills or
Brown-headed Nuthatches, and a virtually empty ocean. It was
substantially colder and windier than expected.
Incidentally, on the subject of eateries, in Cambridge I have been very
pleased with Ocean Oddysey on the east side of Rt 50 a few blocks south
of the bridge. Unfortunately it closes up in the winter. It is a simple
place with good, fast seafood for a reasonable price. I hope it WILL
reopen. I also noticed a new restaurant with "crab" in the name on the
west side of Salisbury on the right side of Rt 50 as you're heading home
(west). It looked similar. Might be worth checking.
--
Steve Sanford
Randallstown MD
tanager@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us