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Subject:

Eastern Shore highlights; Common Moorhen

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Mon, 25 Oct 2004 00:06:18 -0400

Hi Everyone,

After this weekend's pelagic trip was cancelled, Stan Arnold and I went on 
a 2-day jaunt around the Eastern Shore. We had 120 species in 6 counties, 
with quite a few nice highlights. You can do a lot in two days with a 
healthy addiction! Our final tally included 19 species of waterfowl, 11 
species of shorebirds, a nice selection of raptors to include all three 
falcons, the three common owls, all three nuthatches, and some pleasant 
surprises. Alas, one of them was not a Lazuli Bunting (wow, congrats!). Our 
best bird was a very cooperative COMMON MOORHEN at the Eagle's Landing golf 
course (Eurasian Wigeon spot). We were able to contrast it with an American 
Coot and a Pied-billed Grebe in the same scope glass, and even got to show 
some curious golfers their life bird for the day.

The water levels are very high in all coastal areas we visited. The water 
was above the rock wall at the Ocean City inlet, and large waves were 
crashing up onto the boardwalk. Skimmer Island was all but under water. On 
Elliott Island Road, large sections of the road were completely flooded, 
and it was obvious we had missed high tide judging by longer stretches of 
wet road. I would not recommend the trip unless your vehicle has a high 
clearance. Also note that the ORV zone is blocked off at about the midway 
point for hunting season.

Here are some highlights. I listed them by species, with extra info if 
interested.

Snow Geese ­- Large flocks periodically over the weekend; at least 800 
passed over in  huge "seams" at Vaughn WMA. I will never tire of this wild, 
beautiful spectacle.
Brant ­- In a park near Skimmer Island, off Eagle's Nest campground, and 
off Assateague.
Wood Ducks -­ 10+ at Terrapin Nature Area.
Gadwall ­- Several at Hurlock WWTP and West Ocean City (WOC) Pond.
American Wigeon -­  20+ at WOC Pond.
Blue-winged Teal ­-  Several at Hurlock, ponds behind Beulah Landfill, and 
WOC Pond.
Northern Shovelers ­- Hurlock and WOC Pond.
Northern Pintails ­- 8+ at WOC Pond.
Green-winged Teal -­ ~8 at WOC Pond.
Ring-necked Ducks -­ 2 at Hurlock.
SURF SCOTERS ­- Large flocks moving up the coast, visible from the ORV zone.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER ­- 1 in a flock of Surf Scoters.
BLACK SCOTERS ­- Visible on the other side of the jetty at the Ocean City 
inlet.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS ­- 5 in Sinepuxent Bay (bridge to Assateague).
Ruddy Ducks -­ 100s at Hurlock.
RED-THROATED LOONS ­- Several flybys near Assateague.
Common Loons -­ 10+ in Worcester Co.
Pied-billed Grebes ­- 1 each at Eagle's Landing Golf Course and Elliott Island.
NORTHERN GANNETS ­- 3 seen from ORV zone.
Great Cormorant -­ flyby seen from Assateague.
Cattle Egret ­- 1 working the cattle on Bethards Rd, Worcester Co.
MERLIN ­- 1; terrorizing the Tree Swallows on Assateague.
Peregrine Falcon -­ 1; eating breakfast on the water tower visible from the 
Ocean City inlet.
COMMON MOORHEN -- Eagle's Landing golf course; non-breeding plumage.
American Coots -­ Hurlock, WOC Pond, and Eagle's Landing golf course
Black-bellied Plovers ­- Assateague coast.
Greater Yellowlegs -­ Puddles at Easton landfill, which also hosted decent 
numbers of other shorebirds; also at WOC Pond and Elliott Island Road.
Lesser Yellowlegs -­ Easton landfill and Hurlock.
Willet ­- 1 on ORV zone.
Least Sandpiper ­- 1 at Hurlock.
Pectoral Sandpiper ­- 1 at Easton landfill.
Dunlin -­ ~20 at Easton landfill puddles; several at Hurlock.
Bonaparte’s Gull ­- several at the Ocean City Inlet.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -­ 6+ in Pocomoke State Forest; at least 5, loud 
and active, were visible from one vantage point.
Eastern Phoebe ­- 1 at Terrapin.
Tree Swallow -­ 1000s at Assateague. One wave practically filled the sky; 
another wave contracted like a ball of starlings when a Merlin tried to 
join them for lunch; also several at Terrapin Nature Area, and various 
locations in Worcester.
BARN SWALLOWS ­- 2 females at Hurlock; late!
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES ­- 6+ over the weekend; 1 at Terrapin, at least 5 
on Assateague.
White-breasted Nuthatches ­- 2 in Pocomoke SF.
Brown-headed Nuthatch ­- 1 near Elliott Island.
Brown Creeper -­ 2 on Assateague.
Marsh Wren -­ Truitt's Landing Road, Worcester.
Kinglets -- Ruby-crowned were common, but Golden-crowned were absolutely 
abundant: rarely were we out of earshot for more than a few minutes.
Catbirds and Thrashers -- Not common, but still a few around.
Yellow-rumped Warblers -- Bring a fly swatter :)
Common Yellowthroats -- 2 or 3; we only managed to track down these two 
warblers for the trip.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW ­- 1 behind Beulah landfill.
Swamp Sparrows -­ several at Terrapin, Vaughn WMA, and Elliott Island Road.
Eastern Meadowlarks ­- Terrapin, Vaughn, and Assateague.
PURPLE FINCH -­ 1 female at Terrapin.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Enjoy fall and all the beautiful 
foliage - it's getting chilly fast!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Linthicum, Maryland

www.billhubick.com