Birding on the Eastern Shore this weekend.

   On Friday , 11-12-04 with Bill Ellis and Don Jewell, at the Ridgley WWTP were Mallards and Ruddy Ducks.  White-crowned Sparrows were on Bell Road just west of the sewage plant.  At the Hurlock WWTP were 1 Hudsonian Godwit and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper with hundreds of Ruddy Ducks and a few Shovelers.

   On Saturday, 11-13-04 with Charlie Vaughn during the Worcester Rarities Roundup, covering all of Ocean City.  Gannets were visible all day heading south, some fairly close to shore.  One Peregrine on its usual perch at the inlet water tower.  Hundreds or thousands of cormorants were also headed south but no scoters or loons flying along the coast.  The jetty ducks and shorebirds were best seen from Assateague and I will let Hans report on those.  Shortly after sunrise about 300 Bonaparte's Gulls flew out the inlet with none seen the rest of the day.  One Black Skimmer was with the flock of Forster's Terns on Skimmer Island.  Four Royal Terns and two Brown Pelicans were about.  Highlight of the day for us was a Great White Heron on the north side of 42nd Street in the marsh behind the Ramada.

   Sunday, 11-14-04, I had to return home early but I spotted a Peregrine while I was driving across the Choptank River bridge.  A few minutes later it was soaring over the Talbot County end of the bridge.  At Blackwater a few White-rumped Sandpipers were mixed in with a small flock of Dunlin along the wildlife drive.

Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD