Congrats to Tyler Bell for spotting the Anhinga!

But it is incredible that Jim Stasz ( who likes to go out on a limb) looked
at the weather and season and predicted an Anhinga this weekend!!
I may never go out on a limb with you Jim, but I will look forward to you
next emails!!

                 good birding!

                                    Taylor McLean

    PS  It would be too much if somebody spooted a swallow-tailed kite - the
second and final bird Jim predicts  this weekend.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tyler Bell" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 12:59 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Anhinga, Calvert county, noon, 4/16


At lunch today I went out to monitor bluebird boxes at Patterson Park in
Calvert county. When I was done I decided to see if any Grasshopper Sparrows
were on site yet at Mackall and Cage Roads. There were some singing Horned
Larks but no sparrows yet. Then I noticed a small cloud of Tree Swallows,
perhaps 15 to 20.

When I glassed them I noticed a larger bird behind them in the distance.
This was a large black bird with a long neck and long tail which was fanned
out slightly. It was soaring in a thermal in the characteristic
flap-flap-flap glide that I've seen Anhingas do hundreds of times while
doing research in the Everglades. I watched it soaring until I lost it in
the floaters.

I tried to relocate the bird by driving north (the direction it seemed to be
heading) to the Mackall and Parran Road intersection but found nothing more
than Turkey Vultures and an Osprey. I wish I had been able to see this bird
earlier because it almost surely flew over Patterson Park. That would be a
nice park bird!

Keep your eyes open further north though this thing may be only a speck.

Tyler Bell

California, Maryland

Wave that flag...wave it wide and high!
Grateful Dead, U.S. Blues

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