Hurricane Bonnie

Miliff@aol.com
Wed, 26 Aug 1998 00:52:52 EDT 

MDOspreyers,

I posted the following to Hurricane Net.  I have seen little MDOsprey
discussion on this impending storm.  Is anyone else going to look for storm-
blown waifs in MD.  If so, PLEASE do post where you will be going to MDOsprey.
It would be nice to know in advance what areas will see coverage.

In say beow that I will head to Ocean City (for birding Wed nite and all day
Thurs.), and plan to meet Jim Stasz and Ryan Lesh there.  Some of you may be
discouraged by the fact that the EAST edge of the storm is typically much less
productive than the east edge, but remember that birds can be anywhere.  One
of Virginia's WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRDS came from the west edge of a storm.
For those of you who need to work during the day, you might consider checking
somewhere local once you get off.  Some ideas ( in order from most promising
to somewhat less promising) would be:

DC AREA:
Any Potomac locale (i.e. Haines Point, Seneca, Violette's Lock)
Triadelphia Reservoir
Black Hills Reservoir
possibly Lilipons

ANNAPOLIS AREA:
Sandy Point State Park
North Beach, Calvert County
Fort Smallwood State Park

BALTIMORE AREA:
Conowingo Dam
Loch Raven Reservoir

EASTERN SHORE (would be a very good plave to be early Thursday morning):
Blackwalnut Point
Hooper's Island
Terrapin Point Park (just north of Bay Bridge, take first exit to north, then
first left, followed by immediate right.  At the stop sign go left and proceed
.5 mi to park entrance...requires a walk out to Bay shore)

OTHER:
Point Lookout (check BOTH sides!)

I think river areas may provide some of the best birding, as displaced birds
may use them as corridors to return to the sea.  Thus, anyone with the means
should head for the Bay or Potomac, in my opinion.  

PLEASE, PLEASE, do check somewhere and spread the word about your results
whether you find anything or not.  Negative data are just as valuable.
Remember also that something like a Least Tern or Royal Tern at Black Hils
Reservoir would be amost as noteworthy (if not more so) as a Sooty Tern.
PLEASE, PLEASE keep very good notes on what you see or do not see too...even
on the common" birds.

One final note...use common sense if you will head to the coast.  This storm
could be extrememly dangerour and is not worth any undue risks.

Expect a post from me tomorrow evening,

Good birding,

Marshall Iiff
miliff@aol.com
Annapolis, MD

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Hi all,

I am in NY state tonight but am planning on driving down to Ocean City, MD, by
tomorrow eveningt to try for hurricane-bown birds that evening and the next
day.  I will be getting on email in a hotel (hopefully) and will of course
post an update on what I find or do not find.  [ I enourage others to report
negative data as well, as it will be influential to others' decisions].

This is of course assuming the hurricane follows its predicted course along
the coastline.  If not, I may be inland or along the Chespaeake Bay shore.

Good birding and be safe!

Best,

Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com
Annapolis, MD