Warren - As the keeper of Worcester County bird records, I can advise that
although some Ospreys are certainly headed south a sighting in early October
is routine.  Of the 719 Worcester records for Osprey in my data base, some
49 have come from October.  Moreover (and perhaps more surprising) is that
there are 45 records for November (and another 10 from December).  

Certainly not to imply that Ospreys are equally common in Oct and Nov, but
the bird records tend to be dominated by those on each end of the
bell-shaped curve.  Our mid-November counts of recent years have recorded
the following totals: 11/11/2000, 19; 11/10/01, 2; 11/09/2002, 9;
11/08/2003, 18, and have made it pretty clear that the species is to be
expected at that time.  Only 3 of the November records are after the 13th of
the month, so at this point any Osprey later than 13 Nov would be of
particular note.

Mark L Hoffman
Sykesville, MD




-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Strobel, Warren
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 5:33 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Late Osprey

	My wife and I were very surprised to see a single Osprey
hovering over a pond along Md Rte. 90, five or so miles west of Ocean
City, on Saturday, Oct. 1.

	I don't have a Yellow Book handy, but this seems awful late for
an Osprey. Shouldn't they all be on their way to South America?

	Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Warren and Lisa Strobel

Cape St. Claire, MD

2005 Year List - 231
ABA Life List - 304
World Life List - 403