There seems to be a very large movement of Forster's Terns under way at the 
shore.  Monday, 11/15, there were hundreds fishing at Indian River Inlet, 
Sussex County, DE, catching bait fish at the surface.  On one stretch of 
jetty southwest of the Inlet, near the new uber-houses, we counted 135 
Forster's sitting side by side taking in the sun.  Hundreds more fished nearby.

Just a few hours later we saw hundreds of Forster's in Sinepuxent Bay, 
Worcester County, MD, sitting on exposed sand bars at mid-tide.  (These 
birds were viewed from the Eagle's Nest Campground east of Rte. 611, the 
main road south from U.S. 50 to Assateague Island.)

Likewise, many Dunlin are on the move.  There were many thousands at Bombay 
Hook NWR, Kent County, DE, on Sunday, 11/14, together with huge flocks of 
Snow Geese in Bear Swamp and quite a few Tundra Swans in Raymond Pool.  At 
the same site as described above, in Sinepuxent Bay, MD, on Monday, there 
were thousands more Dunlin on 11/15.  Accompanying them were 100-200 
Black-bellied Plover.

Other interesting sightings on the coast on Monday, 11/15, were 6 Great 
Cormorant at the end of the South jetty at Indian River Inlet (2 adults, 4 
young birds).  There were also 3 Great Cormorant on the South jetty at 
Ocean City Inlet (ages unknown).

Brant numbers are picking up in both Delaware and Maryland.  DE birders 
have seen a Black Brant with Atlantic Brant at Indian River Inlet, but we 
did not come across it.

Good Birding.

Mike and Joy Bowen
Bethesda, MD and Dewey Beach, DE



D. H. Michael Bowen (Mike)
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda MD 20817-3845
Tel/Fax: (301) 530-5764
e-mail: