I was in the county Sunday also,
with a group of mostly Baltimore birders,
and at the Ocean City Inlet counted
seven Common Eiders emerging off the
end of the south inlet, including a
young male (white breast).
I failed to try out Evans Road and thus
missed the White-crowned Sparrows, but
did get Horned Larks on Ironshire Station
Road east of the railroad tracks, and
meadowlarks off Patey Woods Road and off
Downs Road, where we also had a flyover Pipit.
I was pleasantly surprised by West Ocean City
Pond, which had some patches of open water and
a nice variety of waterfowl including Shovelers,
a Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and Ruddy Ducks.
A smaller pondlet, all frozen, off Riggin Ridge
Road nearby had four Black-crowned Night-herons,
one adult and three youngsters, all puzzled by
the ice where water was supposed to be. They were
comical to watch, "stalking" where they thought
something should be lurking under the "water"
surface they were walking on, with no clue as
to how to actually get through the ice to nail
anything. Hopefully, they will find some open water
patches at nearby West Ocean City Pond or elsewhere
and get what they need.
Pete Webb
pete_webb - at - juno.com
Baltimore, MD




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