Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Re: Thick-billed Murre

From:

Leo Weigant

Reply-To:

Leo Weigant

Date:

Fri, 2 Mar 2007 08:32:25 -0500

Harvey,
 
I'm unsure about any causative connection, but High Tide yesterday was at
1:40PM -- a little less than 2 1/2 hours before he began his "ride" into the
inlet.   (by going on the web at "Ocean City, MD Tide Chart" you can get
tide times for whenever you go over there.)

Sorry I missed that sight.   Not quite the "Nantucket Sleigh Ride" of which
Melville wrote, but still great fun.

Leo




On 3/2/07 8:16 AM, "Mudd, S. Harvey (NIH/NIMH) [G]" <>
wrote:

> To extend Leo Weigant's posting of yesterday (3/1/07):  After Leo left at
> about 3:45 PM the remaining group walked out the jetty almost to the end.  The
> Thick-billed Murre could then be seen more closely.  He/she preened
> extensively out beyond the green buoy, rolling to one side or the other, and,
> in doing so showing white areas that at times exceeded any black visible   At
> almost precisely 4 PM the bird seemingly began to ride the incoming tide down
> the inlet, moving so rapidly that we had to run to keep it in sight.  There
> was no apparent paddling motion, so we assume the bird was carried by the
> motion of the water, and eventually rounded the island and disappeared up the
> bay.
>  
> It may be useful to those looking for the bird to know about this apparent
> pattern of behaviour (if it persists).
>  
> Harvey Mudd