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Subject:

Fort McHenry 03/18; Eared Grebe, No

From:

Taylor McLean

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 09:44:07 -0500

Date: 03/18/2005
Place: Fort McHenry; Cherry Hill Park?; Fort Howard Balto City/County
Time:10 am - 3 pm 


Hearing about the recent sighting of the Eared Grebe at Fort McHenry ( great bird!!),
I set out to find it on Friday. While I did not find it, I really enjoyed seeing waterfowl 
migration in full swing. 

Starting at the south/southwestern side of Fort McHenry, one of the first birds I observed 
was a Horned Grebe, and as much as I tried to make it an Eared Grebe I was unable to do so
( the tip of the bill was rounded, the neck was not dainty and thin, and the
peak of the head was well behind the eye; also the front of the neck was all white).
The Grebe was located close to a female Red-breasted Merganser.

I also saw a Scaup in the water close to the shore and in the marshy area of Fort McHenry ( sw side).
This bird was out of its open water habitat, and the view in my scope was very close. 
I viewed the black 'nail' on the bill and it appeared to be a Lesser Scaup although 
I was not sufficiently focused on how small the nail needs to be in order for the bird to be a 
Lesser Scaup. If anyone has any expertise in separating Scaul by nail size
( and would like to comment), I would like to hear from you. 
Incidentally, there were hundreds of Ducks in a cove directly south of 
Fort McHenry on the other side of the channel. These birds were so far away that 
only the scope could pick then up. 

Finally, I spotted a TREE SWALLOW on a bush in the Marshy are of Fort McHenry ( southwest )

Still determined to find the Eared Grebe I found my way to the Frankfurt Street near Cherry Hill Park which
is located South of Fort McHenry ( on the south side of the channel). I do not recoomend this
as there is hardly any place to pull over for waterfowl. I did get some great views of some Lesser Scaup
but was unable to find the Eared Grebe, although I did see another Horned Grebe.

Next I decided to check out Fort Howard. After almost getting lost, I finally made to 695
and arrived at Fort Howard. It was fairly quiet there. I did see 2 Ospreys as well as 
Red-breasted Merganser's and 450+ Greater Scaup. I also found a single female Ring-necked Duck
in with some Lesser Scaup in the sheltered Cove at the bend before the parking lot.

Below are the highlight's of the day.


   Good Birding!


    Taylor McLean
    Towson, MD
    Baltimore County
    
    410-377-2153

  
  
  
  
3 ... Horned Grebe
18 ... Double-crested Cormorant
1 ... Great Blue Heron
7 ... Tundra Swan
5 ... Mute Swan
lots ..Canada Goose
x ... Mallard
15 ...American Widgeon
9 ... Canvasback
1 ... Ring-necked Duck
450 .. Greater Scaup
900+ ..Lesser Scaup
25 ... Bufflehead
9 ... Red-breasted Merganser
x ... Turkey Vulture
2 ... Osprey
x ... Ring-billed Gull
x ... Herring Gull
x  ...Great Black -backed Gull
1  ...Tree Swallow
1 ... Yellow-rumped Warbler