Valentine's Day Weekend
Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Tue, 17 Feb 1998 07:21:41 -0500
Well, I started Valentine's Day weekend by taking Paula to the Howard County Dump (I really know how to treat a girl) on a Howard County Bird Club Field Trip. A light phase Rough-legged Hawk was the best bird. Gulls were limited to Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed. You have a chance of seeing the hawk from Alpha Ridge Park off of Rt 99, since access to the dump for the general public is restricted.
We'd decided Friday to go to Chincoteague for the weekend, and a drive to the Chesepeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on Sunday was interesting.
On Island 1, found a couple Purple Sandpiper in with the always dependable Ruddy Turnstones. A single Horned Grebe was also seen.
Island 2 had a single Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a Peregrine Falcon perched on a bridge light on the north end.
Island 3 provided 5 Harlequin Ducks feeding on the rocks of the east side. Later we found them resting on the rocks on the north end of the island. Also off the north end of island 3 were a pair of female King Eiders in with Surf Scoter.
Island 4 produced 28 Common Eider, 15 Great Cormorant showing breeding plumage and a single Red-throated Loon.
Surf Scoter and Oldsquaw were common, seen from all islands. The biggest surprise was we missed Northern Gannet.
As Paula put it, the CBBT is the most fun you can have anywhere for $10.00. Be sure to get a letter of permission before going (see Finding Birds in the National Capital Area for instructions).
Good Birding,
Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Columbia, Maryland