Fran and I went out this morning to check out a few of the reliable
areas in Ocean City and West Ocean City.  We found the Peregrine
Falcon at the water tower, most of the expected birds at the inlet
(still looking for a Little Gull and a Harlie for the year).  Hoopers
was most notable for the pair of Horned Larks feeding in the median
strip of the exit road from Hoopers parking lot, accompanied by three
Savannah Sparrows in a nearby rubble pile.  West OC Pond was 2/3
icebound and no Canvasback nor Redhead were in evidence-possibly in
the Ocean Pines ponds?  All in all a nice morning amidst snow flurries
and cold winds off the ocean.

Best,
Norm & Fran Saunders


1-Feb-07

Mystic Harbor Area
Canada Goose, 40
Mallard, 20
Ring-necked Duck, 12
Hooded Merganser, 6
Ruddy Duck, 6
Great Blue Heron, 2
American Coot, 6
Ring-billed Gull, 30
Herring Gull, 25
Mourning Dove, 8
Downy Woodpecker, 3
Hairy Woodpecker, 1
Carolina Chickadee, 5
Tufted Titmouse, 1
Brown-headed Nuthatch, 3
Carolina Wren, 2
American Robin, 3
Northern Mockingbird, 2
Brown Thrasher, 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler, 2
Eastern Towhee, 1
Fox Sparrow, 2
Song Sparrow, 3
Swamp Sparrow, 1
White-throated Sparrow, 7
Dark-eyed Junco, 9
Northern Cardinal, 3
Red-winged Blackbird, 3
Brown-headed Cowbird, 2
House Finch, 2
American Goldfinch, 8
House Sparrow, 3

Ocean City, Inlet & Jetties
Brant, 45
Surf Scoter, 1
Black Scoter, 3
Red-throated Loon, 3
Common Loon, 8
Double-crested Cormorant, 1
Great Cormorant, 2
Peregrine Falcon, 1 (Old Faithful, on the water tower)
Ruddy Turnstone, 6
Purple Sandpiper, 15
Bonaparte's Gull, 35
Ring-billed Gull, 45
Herring Gull, 15
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1
Great Black-backed Gull, 5
Rock Pigeon, 45
Brown-headed Cowbird, 35 (in the Ocean City State Forest)

Ocean City, 33rd St. & Bayside
Brant, 25
Bufflehead, 6
Horned Grebe, 1
Herring Gull, 8

Ocean City, 26th St. & Bayside
Bufflehead, 6
Red-breasted Merganser, 1
Herring Gull, 3
Great Black-backed Gull, 2

Skimmer Island from 4th Street
Brant, 150
Bufflehead, 25
Red-breasted Merganser, 1
Common Loon, 1
Great Blue Heron, 2
American Oystercatcher, 2
Dunlin, 3
Ring-billed Gull, 45
Herring Gull, 50
Great Black-backed Gull, 25
House Sparrow, 8

Skimmer Island from Hoopers Restaurant
Mallard, 10
Red-breasted Merganser, 1
Great Blue Heron, 2
American Oystercatcher, 15
Ring-billed Gull, 45
Herring Gull, 25
Great Black-backed Gull, 15
Horned Lark, 2 (feeding on median, exit road from Hoopers)
Savannah Sparrow, 3 (ditto)

West Ocean City Pond (about 60% ice-covered)
Canada Goose, 150
Gadwall, 30
American Black Duck, 3
Mallard, 150
Northern Shoveler, 60
Northern Pintail, 8
Ring-necked Duck, 30
Hooded Merganser, 10
Black-crowned Night-Heron, 1
American Coot, 30
Ring-billed Gull, 60
Herring Gull, 50
Great Black-backed Gull, 15