Gail, 

Can you please point that gallinule in the direction of DC when you finally see it? 

Rob Hilton
aimophila10
Silver Spring
Yahoo.com
Maryland

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Gail Mackiernan
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 10:10 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] McKee's-Beshers report


Hi all --

Barry and I went out to McKees-Beshers this morning very early, in hopes of
seeing the Purple Gallinule which has eluded us (mainly because we were out
of the country for 3 weeks). This was our second try and it too was
unsuccessful. However we wanted to report that there are definitely TWO
Moorhens out there -- at 7 am one flew out from cover near the island and we
saw (in the thick weeds behind it) another "gallinule" but only as a dark
silhouette. Naturally we thought this was THE bird! however it also came
into full view and was also a Moorhen! One of the moorhens is favoring its
left leg, kind of hobbling about. So a note of caution if looking at a
"gallinule" in poor light or mostly hidden. We didn't see the Coot but did
last week on our first try.

Also seen -- two Yellow-crowned Night Herons flying over and two Bared Owls
along Hunting Quarter Road.

Maybe third time will be lucky!

Cheers,
Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD