[MDOsprey] Eastern Shore Wastewater Plants - Aug 10th
Leslie Roslund (Lroslund@bluecrab.org)
Tue, 10 Aug 1999 23:19:12 -0400
Gail F, and others;
Thanks for the tip about L. Golden Plover at the Ridgely ponds. The bird
was still there today during my visit - from 1:30 to 2:30, along with the
full set of other shorebirds. There were a few more dowitchers than have
been previously reported.
Prior to going over there, I made a swing through John Brown Road and the
sod fields - no luck with Uppies, but found two Horned Larks, over 40
Killdeer, and a nice flock of Bank Swallows.
Closer to home, a visit to the Easton Wastewater Plant shows the settling
pond water still too high for the shorebirds. The Bobolink flock in the
fields is still there - well over 200 today - and most of the black plumage
is now gone.
Also, at the Easton site, an immature Dickcissel was discovered by one of
the Talbot County birders last week. I tried for it last Wednesday, with
no success. Today, I heard one at the exact plot location that had been
mentioned in last week's sightings. Then I circled the plot, and heard
another. Driving back to the first spot, the first one was still
periodically singing - return to the second spot, and that bird even gave
me a brief glimpse of itself before dropping down into the tall grass.
Neither of these birds was very cooperative for viewing. (One report of
last week indicated that one bird stayed on a tall stem for at least a
little while, but they certainly did not do that today). Songs of both,
though fairly persistent, are not nearly as strong and crisp as would be
offered in mating season by mature birds.
In case anyone wishes to check them out, the plant staff now can direct
you to the plots where the birds have been seen.
Les Roslund
Lroslund@bluecrab.org
Easton, MD