Hi Folks,

    Elaine and I spent the weekend in Talbot Co., mostly in the seven atlas
blocks west of St. Michaels, with the express purpose of  finding woodcocks.
We saw or heard none--not even a wing-whistle.  Despite standing in the
middle of seemingly perfect habitat, I'm wondering if the extended drought
has anything to do with the lack of activity.  Nevertheless, we did manage
to find a few good birds and had a few atlas finds.  The non-atlas finds
included BLUE-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, WILD TURKEY, and BONAPARTE'S GULLs.
Atlas finds included BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH in four different atlas blocks
where they have been missing during the current atlas, confirming PINE
WARBLER in two blocks, and listening to a pair of GREAT HORNED OWLs dueting
for 30 mintues.  The rundown:

Friday, 24 March

    Kent Narrows, QA Co.:
Common Loon--1
Great Egret--1 in marsh at exit 41? off of Rte 50

    Rte 662 at Mill Creek, Talbot Co.
Barred Owl--pair carrying on for about 10 minutes

    Pond at Wade's Point Inn (W. of St. Michaels), (Claiborne CE block):
Wood Duck--3 pairs
Am. Black Duck--6
Green-winged Teal--5
Bufflehead--7

Saturday, 25 March

    Audubon Sanctuary south of Bozman:
Wild Turkey--50 in field to left after entry gate

     Quail Run Rd., just north of Bozman:
Snow Goose--flock overhead
Red-breasted Nuthatch--1

    New Rd., N. of Wittman (Claiborne CE block):
Hermit Thrush--4
Pine Warbler--pair, female carrying dry grass and then some feathery
vegetation

    Pot Pie Rd., E. of Wittman:
Laughing Gull--2

    Bay Shore Rd., off of Rte 33:
Tundra Swan--2 at end of road in bay

    Town of Sherwood, at tiny "town dock" (with enough room for one car to
pull in and back out):
Surf Scoter--10
Ruddy Duck--700
Horned Grebe--1
Forster's Tern--6

    Punch Point Rd., S. of Sherwood (Claiborne SW block):
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1
Hermit Thrush--4
Pine Warbler--pair, female carrying nesting material

    Black Walnut Point (Tilghman CW block)--terribly devoid of sea ducks,
and sadly no gannets:
Surf Scoter--a few dozen
Black Scoter--4
Brown-headed Nuthatch--1 at edge of parking area

    Bridge over Knapps Narrows (separating Tilghman Island from mainland):
Red-breasted Merganser--1
Common Loon--1

    Hwy 579, field on east side of road just north of Bozman
Wild Turkey--15

    May Port Rd. (just S. of Bozman) at dusk:
Wild Turkey--2 in field at corner with Hwy 579
Great Horned Owl--pair dueting for a good 30 minutes, with a third owl
chiming in from across the highway; the evening air was dead still, allowing
the sound to carry very nicely

Sunday, 26 March 2006

    Audubon Sanctuary (John's Cove), S. of Bozman:
Surf Scoter--8
Red-breasted Merganser--7

    Town of Claiborne (Claiborne NE block):
Bonaparte's Gull--4 or 5 flying back and forth along sea wall
White-breasted Nuthatch--1
Brown-headed Nuthatch--1
E. Bluebird--pair going in and out of nest box

    Punch Point Rd. (Claiborne SW block):
Brown Creeper--1
Brown-headed Nuthatch--1
Golden-crowned Kinglet--1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1
Hermit Thrush--3

    Ferry Cove Rd. (off of Lowe's Wharf Rd.), pond near end of road on left:
Mallard--15
N. Pintail--6 (3m 3f)
N. Shoveler--1 m
Blue-winged Teal--3 (1m 2f)
Green-winged Teal--85
Redhead--1 m
Lesser Scaup--1 m
Bufflehead--20
Greater Yellowlegs--1

    Quail Run Rd., N. of Bozman (Claiborne SE block):
Brown-headed Nuthatch--1

    Colby Rd., east of Easton (Fowling Creek CW block):
N. Harrier--1 gray ghost
Horned Lark--3

    Pond on Rte 213, S. of US 301, QA Co.:
W. Snipe--4

    Let there be rain!

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie