Ocean City

burggraf (burggraf@erols.com)
Sun, 29 Mar 1998 06:51:42 -0500 

Dear all,

My brother and I want to thank all those who suggested good places to scout
at Ocean City.  We went there Saturday, March 28, and had a great day.

At the jetty, while we were watching purple sandpipers on the rocks just
south of the Oceanic Motel, two harlequin ducks (male and female) swam
past, and climbed onto the nearby rocks to preen.  We saw them there for
more than twenty minutes.  We saw a total of eight harlequins flying back
and forth during the morning.  We also saw a flock of king eiders on near
to the opposite shore looking South.  Three males and five females.  The
males were in transition between the immature male plumage and the spring
plumage, with an obvious orange knob on the bill.  Other good birds
included Great Cormorant (where we had earlier seen the harlequins), barn
swallow, tree swallow (one each), forster's tern,  surf and white-winged
scoters, and great
looks at numerous oystercatchers.  Both common and red-throated loon were
present.  Although
gannets were present at the jetty, we got closer looks of them up at the
Indian River inlet, along with good looks at oldsquaw.  Sanderlings, dunlin
and a
merlin topped off our day at Cape Henlopen.  It was a day to remember!

--- Don Burggraf ---

----------
> From: Jlstasz <Jlstasz@aol.com>
> To: mdosprey@ARI.Net
> Subject: Re: RFI: Swainson's Warbler
> Date: Thursday, March 26, 1998 8:18 AM
> 
> Hi Folks!
> 
> Swainson's Warbler should be arriving in mid-to-late April....listen to
the
> Voice of the Naturalist. You don't have to rush, because they can be
quite
> vocal into early June. 
> 
> I would recommend Jericho Ditch in the Dismal Swamp NWR. From Washington
> Street (Rt.337) on the eastern end of Suffolk, head south on Rt.642.
According
> to my map, it is only a mile or less on the east side of the road. Drive
all
> the way into the parking area and start listening......you will have
passed
> some Swainson's as you drove in.
> 
> Hearing and seeing are quite different things....read Brooke Meanley's
"The
> Natural History of the Swainson's Warbler" , 1971. US Dept. of the
Interior,
> Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, #69 of the North American Fauna
> Series. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center should have it, it is on the
book
> shelf at Irish Grove, and I have a copy.
> 
> Good Birding!
> 
> Jim
> 
> Jim Stasz
> North Beach MD
> jlstasz@aol.com