ANS Weekend Trip
Joseph j Halpin (halpinj@Juno.com)
Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:42:41 -0500
I was with the ANS trip along the DE/MD/VA coast this weekend. Bobby
Hughes and I started by looking for the Slaty-backed Gull at Conowingo,
but did not see it. We arrived around 3 PM; the smaller gates opened at
4 PM and it started to rain about 4:30. The opening of the smaller gates
did little to attract the Gulls. We stayed around until 5:30 without
luck.
Thanks to Gene S. and Paul P. for their help in finding the Iceland and
Thayer's Gulls and for the what-to-look for info on the Slaty-backed and
California Gulls. Nice meeting you Marcia.
We learned that one can find out what time the dam gates are scheduled to
open by calling 410-457-4076. But it might make sense to ask wether the
larger gates, near the wall, or the smaller ones are opening. Actually,
they told us the gates would open at 5 PM and they opened at 4 PM! The
larger gates were scheduled to open at 6 PM; they made it sound as if
this was the standard timing, but don't count on that.
The group did locate the Iceland and Glaucous Gulls at the Cherry Hill
Landfill, Wilmington on Sat. But we were not successful with the
Black-headed Gull at the Indian R. Inlet on Sun., nor the Black-Tailed
Gull on the CBBT on Tues.
We did flush a Woodcock at the pond in Chincotigue and we had about 6 WC
at the Eastern Shore Wildlife Reserve. We also had great looks at the
Short-eared Owl(s) at Deale Is. starting about 4 PM Monday.
Paul Dumont and Chuck Studholm, our leaders, did an outstanding job and
will file a full report with the Voice.
Joe Halpin
Silver Spring, MD
email: halpinj @juno.com