The first time I saw a RHWO, and the only time I've seen a large group of
them, was April of 1972 at Wallops. I had just started to work there and
remember the lawn next to the bachelor quarters being covered with them,
like Robins. Thanks for reminding me of that.

fdp

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Fred Pierce (DNRC)- 
Mid-Atlantic Aviation on the Web - http://www.avialantic.com
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Charles Vaughn
> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:22 AM
> To: 
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] O.C., Assateague; Red-headed Woodpeckers
>
>
> If RHWOs are being seen on the Christmas bird counts it sort of
> begs the question whether or not they are also around in the fall.
> There was a breeding colony of up to 10-12 pairs of RHWO at
> the main base of the NASA Goddard Wallops Flight Facility.
> Some of these birds stayed over the winter and were seen on
> the Chincoteague Christmas counts. The interesting thing is that
> in most winters some birds stayed, but in a couple of years the
> birds completely disappeared. On the 1972 count I found 21
> birds, and 19 birds in 1976.
>
> But, then, this is Virginia.
>
> Charlie
>
> At 10:31 PM 11/9/04, you wrote:
> >Don - That's actually a great date for RHWO on Assateague (or in
> Worcester
> >generally).  The latest certain fall migrant record I have for
> Worcester is
> >10/20 (1968, 1, OC/Banding Station, Mrs. M. B. MacDonald et al., Robbins
> >unpublished files) and the latest fall Assateague record is
> 10/18 (1992, 1,
> >Assateague Island/Entrance Station, Hoffman and M. O'Brien,
> Unpub. Obs.).  I
> >have no prior records for November in Worcester at all.
> >
> >Going later into the winter, there is an odd 12/01/1957 record
> for "OC" (1,
> >S. H. Dyke [who's he??], Robbins unpublished files), and 10 OC
> CBC records.
>
> Charles Vaughn
> 1306 Frederick Avenue
> Salisbury, MD 21801
>
> 410-742-7221
> 
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