After missing the sooty and greater sheatwaters yesterday on the ORV zone,
Jim Stasz and I decided to give it another shot.  We started a little after
6 am on Assateague in hopes of catching another shearwater flight. Over the
course of 3 and a half hours we talled 8-10 WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, 1 LEACH'S
STORM-PETREL, 1 large shearwater sp., around a dozen Northen Gannets of
varying ages, 1 Black Scoter, 1 Common Loon, 1 RED-THROATED LOON, 1 ARCTIC
TERN, 2 or 3 Royal Terns, a couple dozen Common Terns, a Least Tern, and
several Double-crested Cormorants.

Later in the day we checked out Elliot Island.  Many Marsh Wrens were heard
and seen as well as Seaside Sparrows and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows.
Two Common Moorhens were found with one being seen.  A Virginia Rail was
also heard and a Glossy Ibis flew overhead.  An exciting find was 2 American
Woodcocks within feet of the road which allowed for an under 15-feet
photo-op.  Great looks and pictures. The down part of the day was observing
a pair of Mute Swans with SEVEN!!! young....

One last excitement for the day was Jim and I observing a MISSISSIPPI KITE
flying over route 50 near Grasonville.  Good day overall, but no Sooty or
Greater Shearwaters.

Mike Burchett
Churchville MD
Harford County


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