E Shore trip & Deal Island Change

Steve Sanford (tanager@bcpl.net)
Mon, 29 Mar 1999 21:29:25 -0500 

I went birding on the lower Eastern Shore 3/28 and 3/29. There was
nothing too unexpected. Best was Glossy Ibis and Common Eider. See
below, amongst various other highlights.

There was a nice variety of ducks 3/28 at the Easton sewage lagoons,
mainly the lower one, including
B-w Teal      7
Shoveler       2
Pintail          6
G-w Teal     2
Ring-neck    7
L Scaup      1
Ruddy Duck  6

Alas, still no Am Wigeon there, which I have seeking for years in Talbot
as a 23rd county "close-out." (Ditto for Brown Creeper.)

3/28 at Deal Island Riley Roberts Rd:

Great Egret     3
Snowy Egret     7
Tri-col Heron   10+
*Glossy Ibis     6
Am Wigeon~50
B-w Teal      ~20
Shoveler       100+
Pintail          2
G-w Teal     ~50
Ring-neck    2
Hooded Merg 2 in the roadside ditch in the little town before the
entrance!
Harrier    3
Dunlin ~200
Gr Yellowlegs  ~25
Black-bellied Plover 1

They closed down the road into the eastern heart of the WMA (the "old
Hunters Rd" I think it may have been called) much to my sorrow. It has
been a tradition of mine for about 10 years to go there at dusk around
this time of year and often get Short-eared Owls and/or a Rough-legged
Hawk as we have gotten on a few field trips, not to mention lots of B-c
Night-Herons, and rails, and early Marsh Wrens. They literally
pulverized the road in addition to putting up a light barricade that was
knocked down already.

I guess I'll have to try Riley Roberts at dusk now. It is, of course,
far better for waterfowl, and is one of the most gorgeous spots in
Maryland. As far as I can see they don't close the gate at sunset, at
least there's no sign to that effect. Does anyone know for sure?

3/29

E A Vaughn Ponds:

*Glossy Ibis     5
Wood Duck    2
Shoveler       ~20
Am Wigeon    2

3/29  Ocean City Inlet:
*2 adult male male Common Eiders
26(!) Red-thrt Loons swimming around just beyond the jetties
5 Common Loons
no Harlequin Ducks that I could find
no Gannets
no Peregrine on water tower
no more Brant on the 4th St Flats
WOC and Ocean Pine ponds essentially w/o interesting waterfowl except 3
L Scaup at Ocean Pines.

Incidentally, I didn't find any Seaside or Sharp-tailed Sparrows
anywhere.

3/29 on or near Ironshire Rd:
~200 Snow Geese
~20 Horned Larks

This was my first visit to that area. Thank you Mark Hoffman et al for
informing us about this. I definitely want to check this further during
the winter.

Steve Sanford
tanager@bcpl.net
Randallstown MD