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Re: Eared Grebe, Yes

From:

Les Roslund

Reply-To:

Les Roslund

Date:

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:38:28 -0400

	Right after reporting the Eared Grebe sighting in Talbot County last
week, I left for Nebraska, so had no chance to check for the bird, nor to
respond to requests for site directions during the following days.  Having
returned to Maryland last evening, I was delighted to read that several
people had managed to find the bird.  This afternoon at 4:00 I visited the
site and immediately attained close-up views of the bird.  Its company at
first was a group of Northern Shovelers (15 of them).  Later it went out to
the middle of the lower pond and fed by itself, though some 17 Ruddy Ducks
were in the general area.  I stayed in the area for over an hour, and the
bird was definitely still there when I departed.  Part of my hour included
checking out the flock of Canada Geese that were in the larger pond.  A
couple dozen more Ruddies were up there too.  One of the Canada Geese had a
brownish neck and head that showed only faint evidence of the chinstrap and
black neck markings of normally marked Canada geese.
	The ponds of Easton Waste Water Treatment Plant are located near the
county landfill.  Pond access can be attained either from North Dover Road
or from Barker's Landing Road.  Both these roads are reached from Dover Neck
Road. (From Route 50, turn east onto Dover Road and after about 1.5 miles
turn right onto Dover Neck Road.) If using Barker's Landing Road, drive on
past the landfill entrance, staying to the right, and continue until you
come to three gates. Gates on the left and the right are closed; the gate
straight ahead is probably going to be open.  My choice then is to park in
that area and walk through the field toward the ponds. The pasture fence
near the ponds is very slack so it is easily crossed at that point. The
larger pond is visible from Barker's Landing Road.  The smaller pond, where
the Grebe has been, is to the right of the larger pond, and is somewhat
secluded by the phragmites growth around the edges.  I recommend a quiet
approach the smaller pond so as to keep from spooking the birds.  Often they
gather at the end of the pond nearest to this approach.
	Right now there is a massive amount of construction going on at the
North Dover Road entrance.  If you choose to go that way - good luck - and
you may need to be ready to talk your way past the construction people in
order to reach the building where the Treatment Plant operators are housed.
It is the treatment plant operators who have been graciously giving birders
the permission to drive back to the ponds in the past. They were located in
a brick building to the left of the construction work.  If they are still
there, getting permission to enter the grounds should be easy.  If the
construction company is now in charge you may need to gently convince them
that birding on those grounds is a fully acceptable practice.
	(If recent visitors to the site have more current information on the
North Dover Road access procedures, I would appreciate hearing about it.)

Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton, MD
	
 

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