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Becky I , Mike Parr , Gavin Shire , Gemma Radko , Brian Baker , Eric , Monica ,

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:33:58 -0800

Hi Everyone, 

I left work in hurry yesterday after reading Marcy's and Norm's posts
about the THICK-BILLED MURRE. After eye rolls from my boss and co-workers,
I picked up Becky and Big Lens and was off. I arrived at 4:15 to find Jim
Stasz and Ed Boyd, who had tracked down the bird despite distance and
light challenges. With great persistence, I photograph the bird from
twenty, sometimes even thirty, feet away in the lovely afternoon light. We
were soon joined by the rest of the gang, enjoying convincing Hans the
bird had flown off as he approached. ("I drove past it, didn't I?"--yes,
we'd even moved away from the bird to arrange this, good friends that we
are.) Who would've thought my best looks at any alcid to date would be a
Thick-billed Murre in Maryland? After enjoying the bird at length, we
headed to the inlet, where we quickly found the ICELAND GULL, several
COMMON EIDERs, as well as scoters and Long-tailed Ducks. Dusk meant time
for giant Dos Equis at Plaza Tapatia, of course. 

Becky and I were wide awake at 5am, so we grabbed coffee and breakfast,
then visited Assateague before dawn: one GREAT HORNED OWL and one AMERICAN
WOODCOCK. 

At dawn, we observed 9 COMMON EIDERs north of the jetty, four BONAPARTE'S
GULLs without European pals, and a cooperative GREAT CORMORANT. We didn't
check the fishing pier, and sadly missed the previously reported adult
male HARLEQUIN DUCK. 

Checking back for the MURRE at Shantytown, we ran into Stan and Elaine
Arnold, then spotted the first of at least three RED-NECKED GREBEs that
were found in the area today. Most of the gang quickly arrived to enjoy
this bonus bird, and then we traded this sighting for Hans Holbrook's
HARBOR SEAL across the street. Very interestingly, my first Maryland
Harbor Seal was found on this exact date last year. The others - at the
O.C. jetty - were the next week, I believe. I don't seem to have notes on
these. 

Becky and I had to depart for errands, but made stops at the Salisbury
Landfill and Barren Creek. The former quickly offered a first-winter
GLAUCOUS GULL and several LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLs (3 adult, 2
first-year). The latter had six Ring-necked Ducks and some Canada Geese.
Driving home, we noted the recent influx of AMERICAN ROBINs, as well as
many fields holding small flocks of TUNDRA SWANs. 

Here's the photo haul for the last 24 hours or so:
http://billhubick.com/new_set.html 

Very cool. And there's still a weekend day left... 

Bill 

Bill Hubick 
St. Denis, Baltimore Co., Maryland 
 
http://www.billhubick.com