[MDOsprey] MD Big Day

Miliff@aol.com
Wed, 2 Jun 1999 12:18:30 EDT


Hello all,

Last week on Wednesday, May 26 Andy Farnsworth and I made an attempt at a 
Maryland Big Day.  Though we of course had our sights set on the 206 that 
Michael and Paul O'Brien, Ottavio Janni, and Paul Pisano have twice reached, 
we were realistic about the late date and relatively poor weather (very windy 
in night and morning) and did not expect to get even close on our first 
attempt.  Despite not finding several species in the scouting time, there 
were 
some pleasant surprises a we ended the day with a very satisfying 193.  I do 
not post the complete list below but rather some highlights and lowlights.  
Before doing so though, I must thank Michael O'Brien for providing much help 
with logistics of how to run the route and where to find certain species 
quickly.  

We drove an amazing 725 miles on the day, beginning in the far western part 
of Garrett County, driving to Ocean City, then on to Deal Island for dusk, 
back to Truitt's Landing and then on to Elliot Island for our final 10 
minutes of night (no Black Rails, but Barn Owl).

The unquestionable highlight was a massive Whimbrel movement that day.  
Apparently others saw some in the Appalachians and Great Lakes.  We saw our 
first flock, of about 30, off Snaggy Mtn. Rd. west of Oakland, Garrett County 
(first county record!).  The next flock was already in West Virginia (don't 
yet know how many WV records there are) by the time we saw them, and numbered 
closer to 65 birds.  We had one more group flying by at Cherry Creek north of 
Deep Creek Lake, this one numbering about 80.  Later in the day we saw one 
large flock (100) near Ocean City and then about 6 flocks at dusk flying by 
at Deal Island, numbering about 200 birds in total (a Somerset County bird 
for me).  

Other highlights were:

* Henslow's Sparrow at night in Garrett
* Up to three Mourning Warblers and a Junco singing off Roth Rock Rd. on 
Backbone Mountain
* Upland Sandpiper south of Oakland
* 2 Siskins at Swallow Falls
* Adult Roseate Tern on Skimmer Island (no sign of Sandwich Tern pair from 
day prior)
* Successfully scoping Piping Plover on Assateague
* A great dusk run at Deal including all essentials (Glossy Ibis, Saltmarsh 
Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Clapper Rail etc.) plus Green-winged Teal, 
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and White-rumped Sandpiper
* King Rail and two Sedge Wrens still at Truitt's Landing over the din of the 
frogs at night.  Other night birding was good too and we picked up almost al 
key species...Whip, Chuck, Great Horned, Screecher...

Lowlights were missing the following:

Red-throated Loon
Blue-winged Teal
scoters
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Black Rail
Solitary Sandpiper
Common Nighthawk
both cuckoos
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Andy had seen at Cranesville the day prior)
Winter Wren
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Common Raven
Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes (no night flight at all!)
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
all migrant warblers except Blackpoll

Maybe next year...  Of course, the late run this year may demonstrate that a 
June day has the possibility of breaking 190 or even 200, if well scouted.  I 
note that the ABA area record for June is a paltry 178...

Good birding,

Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com