Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Ruff and Friends

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Sat, 4 Feb 2006 19:08:59 -0800

Hi Everyone,
 
I birded Dorchester, Talbot, and Caroline Counties today (2/4) in the good company of Jim Stasz, Jim Brighton, Matt Hafner, and J.B. Churchill (part of the day). Our highlights were the RUFF originally reported by Stephen Davies (thanks!), two BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS, and one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. A number of other noteworthy sightings are included below.
 
After meeting up, Jim Stasz, Matt, and I proceeded directly to the location of the Ruff sightings (see archives for directions), while Jim Brighton and J.B. successfully chased the 3 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANs at Blackwater. We arrived to find 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and little else of interest, but with the rainy weather and a fairly high tide, we decided to wait. We hung out and watched the flooded field, surprisingly entertained, for about 2 hours. Birds came and went regularly, and we racked up a surprising six species of shorebirds: 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 4 DUNLIN, ~8 KILLDEER, 1 WILSON'S SNIPE, and a surprise LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. Between the excitement of arriving shorebirds, we passed some of the time checking through flocks of robins and blackbirds. At one point, Matt looked in a scope and casually asked if anyone wanted to see a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. We had time to each get a nice view of a male bird (alone in a flock of robins) before it flew off. As
 the blackbirds rearranged themselves, we counted at least 24 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and Jim Stasz had a good look at a female BREWER'S. Over the rest of the day in Dorchester, we had three more Rusty sightings: a group of 3, another of 2, and a single bird. The Ruff was playing hard to get.
 
Eventually we decided to move on, and we spotted two male RING-NECKED PHEASANTs as we drove along Bestpitch Road. Another brief stop nearby produced a single female PURPLE FINCH amid a large foraging flock.
 
We then did a bit of cruising around. The gulls at Beulah Landfill were all out in the fields, but the viewing conditions were pretty awful. One bird looked good for Nelson's Gull, but we debated it in the rain for a short while and lost interest. (Earlier in the morning we'd also had a single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in a nearby field.) A quick check of the pond behind the landfill produced about 15 COMMON GOLDENEYE, several RUDDY DUCKS, and a few GREATER SCAUP. We proceeded to the Choptank River access along Poplar Neck Road, but almost no gulls were around. A nice concession was a drake RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and female COMMON MERGANSER in Caroline County. A nearby pond held a wintering EASTERN PHOEBE (Caroline Co.).
 
We then made a fortuitous decision to return and look for the RUFF, and Matt immediately picked it out as we arrived (~3:30). What a great bird!  It was especially nice having plenty of time to study it and compare it with both yellowlegs and a few Dunlin. I managed to get a few documentation photos of the bird, but the distance and light didn't permit much. We had excellent scope views of the bird for about 45 minutes before finally moving on. Also worth mentioning on this return trip was a single TREE SWALLOW.
 
Jim Brighton and Matt and I continued on to Shorter's Wharf Road, eventually visiting Cedar Creek Road (DeLorme 32/C2). This location has been productive for Rough-legged Hawk recently, but this afternoon the favored tree was occupied by two adult Bald Eagles. Continuing to the end of the road, we were excited to spot two SHORT-EARED OWLs. 
 
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
 
Bill
 
p.s. I'll post a couple distant shots of the Ruff and a couple pheasant photos later tonight or tomorrow. http://www.billhubick.com/new_set.html
 
Bill Hubick
Elkridge, MD
bill_hubick at yahoo.com
http://www.billhubick.com