On Sunday morning my husband, Jim Schaefer, and I began a long 
day at Indian River Inlet in Delaware (oops - maybe Norm isn't 
reading this).  In spite of the ferocious wind (or maybe because of it), 
several NORTHERN GANNETS were putting on quite a show over 
the 
water - some coming as close to shore as the red buoy out from the 
south jetty.  (This was a long overdue life bird for me, so I was very 
pleased.)  There were also very large numbers of SURF and BLACK 
SCOTERS in the inlet and around the jetties, but we were unable to 
find the Razorbill reported on Saturday.

[Late Saturday afternoon, we had a single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 
among the other scoters at the point at Cape Henlopen SP (oops 
again).  By the way, the seal that had beached on the east side of the 
point eventually wiggled its way back into the water.  We came close 
to cheering when it finally swam away.]

Leaving Indian River, we drove down to Ocean City Inlet, where the 
wind seemed even worse.  We got great looks at a pair of COMMON 
LOONS, very close to shore, and also a PEREGRINE FALCON that 
was hunkered down on the lee side of the water tower.  West OC 
Pond held a nice assortment of ducks - mostly CANVASBACKS, but 
also a score of NORTHERN SHOVELERS, a pair of NORTHERN 
PINTAILS, and a few AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS.

We arrived at Blackwater NWR late in the afternoon and missed the 
Golden Eagles and American Pelicans, but we were happy to see a 
small group of COMMON MERGANSERS on the river side of the 
wildlife drive, in addition to the expected species.  

The sun was going down when we arrived in Cambridge and found 
the first winter GLAUCOUS GULL at the end of Oakley Street, on the 
first pier to the left (alright!  another life bird!).  This was a very nice 
surprise, since I had missed Les Roslund's posting on Friday.  After 
barely recovering from my excitement, I noticed a second  pale gull 
(noticeably smaller and not as white) at the end of the very same pier.  
This bird stayed asleep the entire time that we looked at it, and we 
eventually gave up on it (we were cold and tired and it was getting 
dark).  So, I am very glad that someone was able to figure out what it 
was (thanks, Hans!).

To be continued in the next message... 

Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD



-- 
_______________________________________________
Get your free Verizonmail at www.verizonmail.com