Re: White-faced Ibis in Maryland

Phil Davis (pdavis@ix.netcom.com)
Sun, 02 May 1999 23:15:06 -0400 

An update from Worcester County on this ibis ...

Barbara and I arrived around 5:30 pm and met Jim Stasz on the road leaving.
 He indicated that the bird was still around and had been seen, but that
patience was necessary since the birds (White-faced and the local Glossies)
were moving around, including to the more northerly area of the marsh where
it can't be seen.  Jim also reported Soras, Least Bittern and Sedge Wren in
the area.

Paul Pisano was there and had seen the bird no too long ago, but it wasn't
present when we got there.  Paul was on his way out, too.

Around 6:15, Sam Dyke arrived. After checking that area, we went over to
the Gridletree ponds at the WA Vaughn WMA, since Glossies are know to hang
out there.  There were only three glossies in that area .. but no White-faced.

We went back to Truitts Landing Road and stayed until about 7:30, with no
luck.  Heard Sora, Virginia, and King Rails.
 
Sam (who lives in Salisbury) said he will check tomorrow and let me know.
[Sams's not on e-mail and I'm on travel tomorrow and won't return until
late Monday night.


An update on the directions ...  Refer to DeLorme MD/DE Atlas page 27 ...
close to B4.


After crossing Rt 113,  go 1.8 miles and turn left (east) on Cherrix Road.
(The town of Scarboro, shown on the DeLorme Atlas has no sign!).

After 1.3 miles turn right.  This is Truitts Landing Road, but there is no
sign present.  

After 1.0 mile, proceed straight onto the dirt road.  When you clear the
woods you will be at the marsh.

According to Marshall, Jim and Paul, the bird seems to prefer the area on
the left, just after you clear the woods, but it has also been found
further ahead on the left.  Check the far back area with a scope.  I did
not hear anyone say the bird had been seen on the right side of the road,
where a number of Glossies like to hang out. (where the grass is higher and
the water is probably more brackish).  Marshall had reported that it was
with a flock of about 30 Glossy Ibis.  We never saw a flock quite that big.
 There were only about 8 glossies around when we arrived, but maybe 20 or
so around 7:15.

This is a pretty secluded and untraveled road ... I suspect that the birder
vehicular traffic close to the bird's feeding areas could be driving them
further back into the marsh (?).

Good luck.

Phil






At 01:48 PM 05/02/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Just got a phone call from Marshall Iliff ...
>
>He and Jim Stasz have an adult White-faced Ibis in Worcester County, MD.
>
>>From Snow Hill, Worcester County, take MD 12 south.
>
>At the town of Scarboro, go left (east) on Cherrix Road.
>
>Turn (or stay) right onto Truitts Landing Road.  The bird is almost at the
>end of the road on the left, with about 30 Glossy Ibis.
>
>Refer to DeLorme MD/DE Atlas page 27 ... close to B4.
>
>
>Also found this morning by Marshall and Jim ..
>
>A Le Conte's sparrow at the pond at EA Vaughn WMA off of Taylor Landing
>Road (may be hard to relocate, however), and the Eurasian Green-winged Teal
>was still at Vaughn.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Phil
>
>
>
>================================================
>Phil Davis
>
>home:	PDavis@ix.netcom.com	Davidsonville, Maryland	USA
>work:	PDavis@OAO.com        	Greenbelt, Maryland	USA
>================================================

================================================
Phil Davis

home:	PDavis@ix.netcom.com	Davidsonville, Maryland	USA
work:	PDavis@OAO.com        	Greenbelt, Maryland	USA
================================================