The Patuxent Bird Club/PG Audubon Society had a field trip today to several
sites on the eastern shore.  Sites visited included Ocean City inlet, as
well as several stops in Delaware.  The highlights from the Maryland
portion of the trip (at the inlet) included one 1st winter male Harlequin
Duck and a group of five first winter Common Eiders.  The ducks were seen
periodically at the point of rocks on the far side of the channel.
Frequently, they drifted behind the far side of the jetty and were obscured
from view.

Also present was a large group of Surf Scoters (probably several hundreds),
smaller numbers of Black Scoters and Black Ducks, and both Common and Red-
throated Loons.  There were a small number of Purple Sandpipers, American
Oystercatchers, and Ruddy Turnstones on the rocks, and one Horned Grebe
briefly popped into view.

- Near Bombay Hook (Delaware), at least our group was unable to locate the
Gyr today, although we did see several Peregrines.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS