Hi all

For those looking for the Thick-billed Murre in coming days, the following may be helpful. When I first saw the bird yesterday, shortly after sunrise, it was off the south side of the South Jetty and was only intermittently visible through gaps between the boulders. From there it drifted east, and loafed off the end of the jetty with Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters until almost noon. Then at 1150 hrs, I watched it paddle up the inlet and it looked like it was heading back to the same location as yesterday, near the west end of the US 50 bridge. However, it remained close to the eastern end of the bridge instead, eventually drifting under it (best views at this point were from the piers at the end of Talbot St near where a boat called the "Evangeline Trail" is moored). When I left at 1400 hrs, the bird was now a short distance north of Second Street on the north side of the bridge.

The Red-necked Grebe (at Golf Course and Sunset), the nine Common Eiders (intermittently visible off the south jetty) and the Eurasian Wigeon (at Eagle's Landing Golf Course) were all still present yesterday. Also, there was a Red Knot in with the turnstones and Purple Sandpipers at the inlet - seemed unseasonal to me - some photos are at http://www.chlorophonia.com/rekn_02252007.htm 
I also posted some photos of the murre and Red-necked Grebe at http://www.chlorophonia.com/ but I'm afraid they do not hold a candle to those already posted from 2/24 ;)

Cheers

Stephen



Stephen J. Davies

Silver Spring, MD

chlorophonia_AT_aol.com
www.chlorophonia.com