I was fortunate enough to be able to take off from work last week and
see the TB murre both days before it seems to have left the area.  I had
also hoped to find a great cormorant but, surprisingly, the only
cormorant I saw was one DC cormorant at the Eagle's Landing Golf Course,
despite hours of scanning the ocean, the inlet and the harbor.  Where
have all the cormorants gone?  Or, are they generally scarce in OC this
time of year?

Having seen 83 species in 2 days, I can't complain.  Just curious.


Michel Cavigelli
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Chlorophonia
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 9:16 AM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Thick-billed Murre movements - 2/25

 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