Hi Folks,

Elaine and I spent a few days on the Eastern Shore, mostly doing atlas work
in Talbot Co., but also visiting several other counties for regular birding.
Highlights for the trip were COMMON MOORHENs and Bank Swallows in Caroline
Co., HORNED GREBE, Wild Turkey, and Brown-headed Nuthatch in Talbot Co., and
Bobwhites in several counties.  Here's the low-down:

Talbot Co., 7/19 to 7/22, mostly doing atlas work in the St. Michaels,
Claiborne, and Tilghman's Island quads:

    HORNED GREBE--one in resplendent breeding plumage in the water off the
north side of Camper Circle, just north of the bridge to Tilghman's Island,
7/20
    Cattle Egret--10 in the cow pasture on Hwy 579 just north of Bozman,
opposite River Ridge Rd., 7/21
    Am. Kestrel--just 1, along Wade's Point Inn Rd., 7/20
    Wild Turkey--hen with 7 poults on Traveler's Rest Rd., 7/19; hen with 11
poults on Hwy 579 north of Bozman (near house # 8612) on 7/21
    N. Bobwhite--singing on Hambleton Rd., 7/19; along Hwy 579 at Willow Oak
Farm and also Wade's Point Inn Rd. on 7/20; and along Jane Lowe Rd. on 7/21
    Spotted Sandpiper--one along waterfront at Wade's Point Inn, 7/20
    Ring-billed Gull--now showing up, with about 5 on pilings at Claiborne
on 7/19
    Forster's Tern--about a dozen at Claiborne, 7/19; also seen at Wade's
Point Inn and in Sherwood
    Least Tern--3 over Choptank River at Hwy 331 bridge on 7/22
    Yellow-billed Cuckoo--still vocal in many locations:  Hambleton Rd. on
7/19; May Port Rd. & Old Claiborne Rd. on 7/21; Traveler's Rest Rd. on 7/22
    Chuck-will's-widow--one still on territory (T), May Port Rd., 7/19
    Hummingbird--pair interacting at Jean Ellen Dupont Shehan Sanctuary
(south of Bozman), 7/21
    Horned Lark--first I've seen in the eight blocks we're covering, Jane
Lowe Rd., 7/21
    Brown-headed Nuthatch--5-6, adults with several fledglings, River Ridge
Rd., 7/21; only one's I've found in the 8 blocks being covered
    White-breasted Nuthatch--vocal along Traveler's Rest Rd. near Trippe
Rd., 7/22
    Cedar Waxwing--3 flew over Gregory Rd. on 7/22; only sighting this trip
    Pine Warbler--FL--fledgling in pine along Gregory Rd., 7/22
    Ovenbird--one still vocal, Traveler's Rest Rd., 7/22
    Yellow-breasted Chat--one singing along Traveler's Rest Rd. and 3 along
Gregory Rd., 7/22
    Scarlet Tanager--one vocalizing along Traveler's Rest Rd. on 7/22; first
one found in the 8 blocks being covered
    Grasshopper Sparrow--still very vocal, Ferry Rd. and Deep Harbor Farm
Rd., 7/20; Mack's Lane, 7/21
    E. Meadowlark, one singing along Mack's Lane, 7/21; a scarce bird in
western Talbot Co.

Dorchester Co., 7/21, Woodland Trail south of entry road to (Nanticoke)
Scout Reservation:

    Yellow-billed Cuckoo--1
    Barred Owl--1 or 2
    Summer Tanager--1
    Scarlet Tanager--1

Wicomico Co., 7/21:

    Little Blue Heron--one adult flyover, Airport Rd. at Johnson Rd.
    Cattle Egret--3 flying over US 50 near Bent Pine Rd.
    N. Bobwhite--one seen running along Beach Island Rd. (at least this is
the name of the road on the DeLorme)
    Royal Tern--4 on pilings, Tyaskin Park
    Forster's Tern--about 50 on boardwalk, Tyaskin Park
    YB Cuckoo--1, Bear Swamp Rd.
    Screech Owl--1, Bear Swamp Rd.
    Marsh Wren--only one heard (but it was midday), Wetipquin Marsh
    Am. Redstart--2-3 still singing along Beach Island Rd.
    Summer Tanager--1, Bear Swamp Rd.
    Grasshopper Sparrow--vocal along Wango Rd.
    E. Meadowlark--heard along Wango Rd.

Worcester Co., 7/21:

    N. Bobwhite--heard along Five Mile Branch Rd.
    Wood Thrush--heard at Porter's Crossing (closeout for the year)
    Grasshopper Sparrow--heard along Five Mile Branch Rd.

Caroline Co., 7/22:

    Mute Swan--pair with 4 signets, Tanyard Marsh
    N. Bobwhite--heard from Ridgely WWTP around noon
    DC Cormorant--just one, Williston Lake
    Am. Kestrel--one on wire on Grove Rd.
    COMMON MOORHEN--2 at Tanyard Marsh; one heard in vegetation (but not
seen) pretty close to the road, the other swimming about 100 feet away,
viewed in the scope
    Killdeer--about 40 at Ridgely WWTP
    Spotted Sandpiper--8 at Ridgley WWTP
    Laughing Gull--just one, Pealiquor Rd.
    Least Tern-- 1 over Tanyard Marsh; 3 over river nearby
    Barred Owl--1 along Tuckahoe Valley Trail, Tuckahoe SP
    E. Phoebe--family of 4, adult popping a bug in mouth of youngster, on
split rail fence near lake, Tuckahoe SP
    Purple Martin--many flying over town of Harmony; active martin house on
Pealiquor Rd.
    Bank Swallow--about half a dozen, Ridgely WWTP
    House Wren--just one, Williston Heights subdivision
    G. Catbird--just one, ditto
    Brown Thrasher--pair, ditto
    Hooded Warbler--one singing along Woods Wharf Rd.
    Summer Tanager--one singing along Woods Wharf Rd.

Another great E. Shore birding spell.  I never get tired of the other side
of the bay.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie