Hi Everyone,

I spent the day exploring the Upper Shore with Jim Brighton, first
focusing on waterfowl, then shifting to field birds as the snow started
coming down. It was a very interesting and productive day. Our highlights
were an immature GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in Kent Co., 16 species of
waterfowl in Caroline Co., SNOW BUNTINGs in Caroline Co., and LAPLAND
LONGSPUR and SNOW BUNTING in Talbot Co.  

Throughout the day:

Ubiquitous flocks of migrant American Robins and Common Grackles; many
flocks of Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. After the snow accumulated, Horned
Larks and American Pipits were abundant along back roads.

Tanyard Marsh, Caroline Co.

Common Merganser--4

Huntington Creek, Caroline Co.

Lesser Black-backed Gull--1 adult flew from the Dorchester side to the
Caroline side. 
Common Merganser--10

Choptank on the Choptank, Caroline Co.

CANVASBACK--1 flyby drake

Choptank Road

Large flock of Canada Geese (~1000) with 1 ROSS'S GOOSE. Nice.

Wilston Lake, Caroline Co.

Hooded Merganser--2 hens
Common Merganser--pair
Ring-necked Duck--1 drake

Ridgely WWTP, Caroline Co.
* The gate was closed so I asked Jim how we would see the ponds. He
explained, "They know me here." "Do you have the access code?!" "No, they
know me as the crazy guy who stands on his car." He climbed up, explaining
I couldn't come up unless there was something good... "OK, there's a
Redhead--come on up." ;)

Tundra Swan--40
Snow Goose--500+
REDHEAD--1
scaup sp.--7
Ring-necked Duck--12
Ruddy Duck--5

Sparks Road, Caroline Co.

Tundra Swan--600
Horned Lark--100
SNOW BUNTING--2

Denton WWTP, Caroline Co.

CANVASBACK--1 drake
Greater Scaup--3
Lesser Scaup--1
Ring-necked Duck--11
BUFFLEHEAD--2 hens
COMMON GOLDENEYE--1 hen
Ruddy Duck--1

Rte. 309, southern pond close to road, Q.A. Co.

Killdeer--5
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER--1
Wilson's Snipe--3 (same pond)

Rte. 309, first pond south of Rte. 213, Q.A. Co.

Green-winged Teal--3
REDHEAD--2
scaup sp.--4
Ring-necked Duck--15

Pond on Rte. 213 east of Rte. 309, Q.A. Co.

REDHEAD--5
Ring-necked Duck--100+

John Hanson WWTP, Kent Co.

Just a couple Herring Gulls - no ducks or geese!

Chesapeake Farms, Kent Co.

Snow Goose--100s, probably 1000s further back
Northern Shoveler--2
Northern Pintail--200+
Green-winged Teal--2

Rock Hall, Kent Co.

Canvasback--30
Distant scaup--1000s
Common Goldeneye--5
Red-breasted Merganser--5

Rte. 10 east of Rock Hall, just west of Butlertown, Kent Co.

Eastern White-crowned Sparrow--10+
GAMBEL's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--1 imm. (photos)
* Hedgerows on the north side of the road. This is not far from where
Walter Ellison and Co. reported this subspecies today.
Fish Hatchery Road, Kent Co.

GRAY FOX--1 

Lewistown Road, Talbot Co.

Horned Lark--100s
LAPLAND LONGSPUR--1
SNOW BUNTING--1

I've posted quite a few photos--including shots of the GAMBEL'S
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW--on my web site at
http://billhubick.com/new_set.html.

I've copied them below the shots from Friday and Saturday, as I wanted to
keep the Thick-billed Murre at the top for a few more days. :)

Fantastic weekend!  Hope you had fun!

Bill

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