Hi all --

Barry and I headed over to O.C. this monring in hopes that the THICK-BILLED MURRE was still around. About 1/2 hour away, Ray Kiddy called us to say he had the bird in the inlet. When we got there the bird was off the end of the south jetty, in loose assocation with dicks -- Scoters, scaup and long-tailed ducks. Not the smashing looks of earlier in the week, when the Murre was in the canal south of the Rt. 50 bridge, but cetainly satisfying! This was about 9:45 and the bird was still there at 11:00 -- loafing, sleeping and occasionally preening.

We had to hurry home to get ready for a trip, but did do some looking for other birds. The male HARLEQUIN DUCK was in a huge flock of Surf Scoters -- off the fishing pier but distant. We had all just got on to him when a boat came in towards shore, flushed all the ducks, then headed back out. Neeless to say, no Harlequin after that.

We had a single GREAT CORMORANT flying up the inlet. The PEREGRINE was on the north railing of the water tower, but soon flew off.

Despite looking in many spots, no Red-necked Grebes were seen, nor any Kumlien's Gull.

Enjoyed seeing all the loons (of two species), purple sandpipers, and about 14 duck species (but no Eiders, they seemed to be in hiding, probably in back of the south jetty).

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD