Hi all,
Nancy and I just returned from our first ever trip to (coastal) Maine, where
we relaxed, ate lobster and fried clams, and took in lots of very beautiful
scenery. Didn't do much birding, but managed to squeeze in a trip to E. Egg
Rock where I got 3 lifers; A. Puffin (hooray for puffins!), Black Guillemot
(actually saw one off the coast the day before near Pemaquid Lighthouse) and
Parasitic Jaeger (harassing a flock of Common Terns). 4-5 foot seas made this
as close to a pelagic as I like!
This morning it was back to the grind and daily routine, and as I went out
with the dog to the pond, I saw a juvie mallard on the water. Another look and
I spied something smaller in close proximity to the mallard. Looking through
binoculars turned it into #169 for my yard list, a young PIED-BILLED GREBE!
When your yard list approaches its higher end, the really odd birds begin to
make it onto the list. This is a tiny storm-water management pond and nothing
like a PBGR habitat. This bird was hanging close to the mallard, as much for
strength-in-numbers protection as for company I suppose. A rather odd couple,
but migration makes for strange pond fellows. Last year I remember the
juvenile White Ibis hanging out with a Great Egret at Blue Mash at summers end.
Glad the heat has broken,
Rick Sussman
Ashton, MD
(mailto:[log in to unmask]) |