Re: Blackwater
Jlstasz@aol.com
Wed, 18 Feb 1998 19:30:16 EST
Hi Folks!
I wish Marshall was here instead on in Durango, Mexico counting grassland
birds. He looked hard for Ross'sXSnow hybrids this past Fall & Winter and
found more than he had hoped for. The best family group was in Queen Anne's
County....an apparently pure white Ross's mated with what He called a
Ross'sXBlue....and 3 immatures of the white type that were not clearly Ross's
...all showed small grinning patches.
Hybrids are not to be rulled out, but there are plenty of good-looking Ross's.
In addition to the 3 at Blackwater ...these have been seen since sometime in
early January...17 others were found on the Eastern Shore. A family group of 2
adults & 3 imms. at Snow Hill and another lone adult in the same flock, 4
adults [behaving like 2 pairs] in Wicomico County, 2 adults near Kenedysville
in Kent County...etc., etc., etc.
The hybrids are common enough that we have a standard checklist we use on day
trips....it includes a line for Ross'sXSnow.
Good Birding,
Jim
Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com