Snow Buntings at Sandy Pt. SP
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Mon, 21 Dec 98 19:29:34 EST
Hi Ospreyers --
In our first outing since returning from South Africa, Barry and I visited
Sandy Point State Park this afternoon. It was very foggy and very quiet,
except for a large flock of Canada Geese *and* 15 lovely Snow Buntings on
the beach between the middle and south pavilions.
Our trip to South Africa, btw, was great -- we saw over 550 species in about
24 days, as well as lots of mammals including "the big five." It was our fifth
continent birding in 1998, we think we have seen about 1500 species this year.
The most memorable? The flock of Swallow-tailed Gulls that materialized out
of the dark and began feeding in the ship's lights, like giant white moths,
off the coast of Peru last January. We also saw both species of Painted Snipe,
(South American and Asian), Diademed Sandpiper-plover, Relict Gull and other
"megaticks" for gull and shorebird enthusiasts such as ourselves.
After Christmas I hope to do a trip report from South Africa, which has to
rate as one of the world's great birding destinations -- superb infrastructure,
wonderful parks and wild areas, no-hassle travel, and of course, lots of birds!
Have a great holiday,
Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Silver Spring, MD