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Subject:

Cecil -Tree Swallow, Thayer's Gull

From:

Chris Starling

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 13 Mar 2005 07:23:25 -0500

Greetings,

Yesterday morning, before the scheduled waterfowl trip in Cecil County, I
stopped by the Perryville Town Park to scout around for the trip.  At 7:00
AM there were ca. 500 Tundra Swan WAY OUT in Furnace bay and perhaps 1000
or more Scaup sp. (most, if not all, being Lesser Scaup).  Also a few Black
Ducks, C. Merg, and Bufflehead in Mill Creek.  I then left the park.
Traveling up Rt 40 to North East I was surprised to see a lone Tree Swallow
on the wires near the Richie Brothers auction facility between Perryville
and North East!  That made my day.  Good thing too beacuse noone showed up
for the field trip!!!  After watching a killdeer on the roof of the old
Acme in North East, I left (alone) around 8:20 and went to the North East
Town Park, where I believe I had a first-winter Thayer's Gull. The bird
made for nice comparisons swimming with a group of young Herring Gull and
mature Ring-billeds. One imm. Bald Eagel was present also.  Down the road a
bit, on the Elk Neck Penninsula, I found Hermit Thrush, Pileated
Woodpecker, and SINGING Dark-eyed Juncos. (cool sounding bird, -don't get
to hear it sing in Cecil much!). I also had an odd sounding Raven-like
croak coming from deep in the woods. There were roosting Vultures near-by,
Could this have been the culperate? Do Vultures vocalize like Ravens?

The rest of the day I spent working in my yard where I was visted off and
on by a stunning mature Bald Eagle and one of his/her younger peers.

Good Birding,
Chris Starling