Re: Where in Maryland does one find...
Miliff@aol.com
Wed, 3 Feb 1999 21:06:51 EST
Stan et al.,
I would be happy to go into more detail about where some of these birds were
found and why I gave them the codes that I did.
Great Cormorant: These are easy both at Ocean City and Point Lookout. At
Ocean City look for them at the inlet (sometimes on the south jetty) but
especially on the pilings next to the Ocean City motel. Actually, I saw
several in the pond at Ocean Pines north of Ocean City (appears on most maps).
Point Lookout always has some wintering and they usually perch on the fish
netting around the point (look from the last parking lot at the tip). They
can also be scoped on Baltimore Lighthouse from Cape Saint Claire near
Annapolis and on Sharpe's Island Light from Blackwalnut Point, Talbot County,
but the views are barely good enough to tell they're cormorants (on a clear
day, you can see general pattern and when flocks are mixed, size will ID
them).
Ring-necked Pheasant: Actually pheasants are becoming EXTREMELY hard in the
state. A few still hang on in northern and western Maryland, though the
extent to which they are still around is hard to know. Cherry Hill is now the
only place I'd consider reliable and is right next to Harbor Hospital. Take
Hanover St. from Rte. 695 (just after tunnel) along Middle Branch and park at
the hospital (lock your car!). Follow the trail along the water and under
Hanover and Potter Streets. Walk up onto the big hill in front of you (Cherry
Hill) which is an old landfill site. The pheasants are in the grassy scubby
areas on the hill and can be flushed with effort. Bob Rineer tells me he
thinks 25-30 peheasants live in this area. Morning is best.
Ruffed Grouse: Fairly common in Garrett County, and present in lesser numbers
in Allegany, Washington, and Frederick Counties. In Garrett almost any
woodland habitat is good but especially those with pretty thick ground cover
(Mountain Laurel). Your best bet to find one is to walk around the woods a
TON until you flush one or drive back roads hoping to see one crossing. Ours
flushed as we got out of the car at the first stream crossing while heading
south along Snaggy Mt. Rd. (DeLorme 65 D5) which is near Herrington Manor,
Swallow Falls SP, and Cranesville Swamp SW of Deep Creek Lake.
Barn Owl: I probably shouldn't tell exactly which barn it was, but I can say
this. Barn Owls are easy along Elliot Island Rd. during breeding season.
There is a Barn Owl box about 5 mi out in the marsh that has a pair during
summer. I nwinter you really have to know which barn, box, or cedar grove the
owls like and such things are best not to broadcast to the masses as the owls
are easily disturbed.
Short-eared Owl: Easy this year at the "Green dumpster rd." at Deal Island
(see Claudia's book)and Taneytown, Carroll County (DeLorme 73 B5). To get to
the Taneytown site go S from town on Rte. 194, go left on Fesser Rd., follow
it past Stonesfer Rd., and look for the falow field on your left at the sharp
bend. At least 3 Short-ears have been there this year. Allen's Fresh
(Charles County, Rte. 235 crosing of Wicomico River marshes) has also had at
least one this year. I did not check Eilliot Island Rd. or Shorter's Wharf
Rd. this year, both of which can be excellent for the species. Dusk is better
than dawn.
Sedge Wren: Very easy at Irish Grove (look for Rumbley Pt. Rd. (DeLorme 25 D6)
- the MOS owned house is on the right just before RP Rd. enters the marsh).
Anyone is welcome to visit and M.O.S. members can stay there for 4$ a night (a
great deal). At Irish Grove look for Sedge Wrens along Rumbly Point Rd. past
the entrance to the house in the first .2 mi of marsh. Look also at each
hammock along the rd.. The other good place to look in the state is
Assateague Island, were there were several on the Ocean City CBC. Walk south
along the woods edge from the causeway and concentrate on the areas with the
scraggly bushes (_Iva_ and _Baccharus_ (sp?)). Dawn (and to a lesser extent,
dusk) is the time to go and be sure to learn their twangy chip (sounds vaguely
like a Swamp Sparrow).
Sharp-tailed Sparrows: For starters, Jim and I have had luck walking the
marshes on Smith Island, but logistics are difficult (you need to take the
Jason or Jason II out of Crisfield, and need to find a place to stay on the
island). Nelson's may be easier there than Saltmarsh. Irish Grove is a great
place to look and the more you walk around in the marshes the more likely you
are to bump into one. I have had luck only with Saltmarsh Sharp-taileds here
in winter (but Nelson's should occur). I think the best place to look is E.
A. Vaughn WMA area. To get there, go north from Stockton about 2 mi (not sure
exact distance) to the sign on the right and a road that runs .75 mi to a
parking area. Park here and walk about 1.0 mi to the marsh where a road is
lined by Iva/Baccharus bushes and often has both species of sharp-tailed
sparrows. High tide tends to concentrate them along this stretch of road, and
the Chincoteague CBC had both species here in December. If you miss them
along the rd., walk out in the marsh to your right and concentrate on the
bushy areas. In all locations, concentrate your searches along gut edges,
salt pannes, areas with scrubby bushes (Iva and Baccharus again), and
needlerush. They are often with flocks of Swamp Sparrows or Savannah Sparrows
in the marsh.
Hope this answers some of your questions and let us know if you have luck
finding any (or all!) of these birds.
Good birding,
Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com