I took the day off today to go birding with my wife (Donna). We got a
bit of a late start but a good omen was a sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE just
past Sideling Hill in Washington County. Our first major birding stop
at Eastern Neck NWR was productive too and the GREAT WHITE HERON was
easily found from the blind at the end of the boardwalk at the Tubby
Cove Trail. Boxes Point Trail was birdy with lots of White-throated
Sparrows, Juncos, Song, Field and just a few Chipping Sparrows and
Cardinals. Also GC Kinglets, a Winter Wren and a couple Carolina
Wrens. Three Palm Warblers (2 yellow, 1 western) were nice to see and a
few yellow-rumps here and there. Lots of Forster's Terns, and a few
gulls (Laughing Gulls, Ring Billed, and Herring). The wind probably
aided the accipiters that I saw (2 Sharpies and a Cooper's) all flying
in to the tump at the end of the Boxes Point trail.
We tried for the Eared Grebe previously reported at the Easton STP but
had no luck finding it. It was very windy. I scanned the lower pond
thoroughly and the upper pond to a lesser extent but didn't see anything
grebe-like. Just some Northern Shovelors and Ruddy Ducks.
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J. B. Churchill
Frostburg, Maryland
webpage: http://www.jbchurchill.com/
webpage: http://www.westernmdbirding.com/ |