Irish Grove Wildlife Sanctuary and immediate vicinity, May 13, 
2006.  Started at 1:00 AM and quit at 9 PM.  The plan was to launch the 
canoe at 1AM and canoe with the high tide and full moon, but at 1 AM there 
were electrical storms in the area, and the tide was so high that much of 
Rumbly Point Road was under water, so we waited till dawn.  Non-tidal pools 
were also high from the first significant rains of the year, and were full 
of breeding pickeral frogs, bull frogs, Fowler's toads, and green tree 
frogs. Highlights for the day include 1 NORTHERN GANNET soaring over 
Pocomoke Sound, a female BLACK SCOTER on East Creek that wasn't as injured 
as one might assume, 42 GLOSSY IBIS, a new BALD EAGLE nest on sanctuary 
property on Planers Hummock, 6 NORTHERN BOBWHITES -(nice to hear them 
singing like the good ol days - our field management project is paying 
dividends on that one), 5 CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS including one just north of 
the house singing at 2 AM, 14 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 2 NORTHERN PARULAS, 3 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, including one singing at 2 AM, 11 SALT-MARSH 
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS (1 nest with 4 eggs found - appears to be the 
earliest egg record), 104 SEASIDE SPARROWS, as well as the normal denizens 
of that part of the world (complete list available upon request).  There 
was a fox kit playing in the front yard who was more curious than 
afraid.  Lots of northern water snakes, including several swimming out on 
East Creek, close to 1/2 mile from shore, in very rough water.  Total of 89 
species, with only a couple of bad misses, on a beautiful day.

Paul Bystrak

3709 Devonshire Drive
Salisbury, MD 21804
410-572-9950
443-783-1268 (cell)