[MDOsprey] Morning at a Spring Hawk Watch
Norm Saunders (osprey@ARI.Net)
Tue, 25 May 1999 15:24:13 -0500
I had an early morning dental appointment and no great desire to
go to work today so I decided to hoof it over to Fort Smallwood in
Anne Arundel County so that I could say I had visited the hawk
watch there at least once this season.
When I arrived Sue Ricciardi and Greg Smith were busy tallying
a good flight of sub-adult Broad-winged Hawks and bantering over
the countability of the kettles of Turkey Vultures forming up and
drifting off to the north.
A short while later Hal Wierenga happened along followed almost
immediately by Ralph Geuder from Howard County. About this time
the big burst of Broadwings was slowing down and everyone settled
into their chairs (except me, I didn't have one..sigh). Hal looked
out over the Bay and in a somewhat bored voice announced "Osprey."
Greg Smith looked at it and in an equally bored tone said, "Looks
more like a goose."
Hal looked at Greg, Greg looked at Hal, and Hal lunged for his scope,
to note moments later "White Pelican!" Sue Ricciardi was doing a
little dance in response while I wondered hurriedly how I was going
to explain getting a new state bird while Fran was out of town on a
business trip...ah well, stop worrying and enjoy the bird! It drifted
steadily northward, out across the Bay and ultimately disappeared
over Baltimore County.
A bit later, as most of us looked southward to scan for incoming
migrant raptors, we heard Ralph clear his throat behind us and
announce "I think I have a kite here..."
Just about everyone got on the kite immediately. Then Hal started
yelling at me to "Get on this kite, Norm! What's wrong with you???"
Well, I couldn't figure out why he was yelling, I was getting
great looks at the Mississippi Kite...turns out it just wasn't the
same one everyone else was looking at! The two birds flew in
from the Bay and headed inland, to disappear in just a few seconds.
Now I was really worried...two new state birds in one morning, and
my wife is out of town...this is going to look REALLY bad! Sigh...
Nonetheless, what a great morning! Thanks to all the folks at the
Fort Smallwood Hawk Watch who made my day of playing
hookey so enjoyable!
Norm
===============
Norm Saunders
Colesville, MD
osprey@ari.net