A first-year male Harlequin Duck was present this afternoon
(11/29/04) in the Chesapeake Bay waters beside the Wades Point Inn on the
Bay.  The bird was first noticed by Jim Wilkinson of Howard County on
Saturday, and was seen by him again on Sunday.  Based on his information,
given to me by Wayne Bell, I went to Wades Point Inn this morning and looked
into the choppy waters of the morning with no success.  This afternoon
around 4 p.m., I returned and found the bird playing in the water right
beside the rip-rap rocks northwest of the main house on the Inn grounds.
This young male is keeping close company with a female Bufflehead, and there
are numerous other Buffleheads in the surrounding waters.
	The Wades Point Inn is a Bed-and-Breakfast property owned by Mrs.
Betsy Feiler, who has graciously stated that birders can come on in and look
for the bird if they wish, but with the following restrictions.
	1. When you reach the main building of the Inn, park only in the
indicated parking places along the gravel driveway.
	2. Come up to the door of the Main Inn Building (beside the circular
driveway) and let the management know who you are and that you are there to
look for the Harlequin Duck.  
	Then you can help yourself to the viewing out onto the bay in search
of this lovely bird.  Note that the Yellow Book does not indicate previous
confirmed records of Harlequin sightings in Talbot County.

	To get to the Wades Point Inn is relatively easy.  Come to Easton,
and turn off towards St Michaels on Route 33.  Pass on through St Michaels
and continue for about three more miles until you reach the little Methodist
Church (John Wesley Methodist) near the town of McDaniel.  From the church
it is about one-half mile to the entrance to Wades Point Inn.  There is a
sign beside Rte 33 showing where to turn to the right toward the inn.
Continue on that road (Wades Point Road) until you reach the large white
house beside the bay.
	

Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601