In lieu of the cancelled pelagic, I birded in Worcester County today. In the am in the Nassawango/Pocomoke State Forest "North" area and later in the day around Ocean City.

I think is was colder as compared to a couple Christmas bird counts I did last December, and there was certainly more snow on the ground (!), but nonetheless I had a great day.  I decided my goal was to get pictures on warblers in the snow (with my new Canon 500 F4 lens), and I succeeded with two recent arrivals.  Highlights:

8 species of warblers in the am: Myrtle, Pine, Yellow-throated (4), Louisiana Waterthrush (2), Black-and-white (1, photo with snow), Common Yellowthroat (1), Ovenbird (1) and Yellow Palm (1).  The first five are expected by now.  The yellowthroat (singing at Mt. Olive Church Rd @ Nassawango Creek) ties the fourth earliest spring record for Worcester. The Ovenbird (feeding and photograph on the road shoulder in the snow) along Millville Road ties the third best arrival date (and equals my prior personal best).  The Yellow Palm is only the second palm for the April 1-10 period here, they are much less common during spring than parts farther west. Photos also.

White-eyed Vireo (1, singing at Mt. Olive Church Rd @ Nassawango Creek).  Fifth earliest record for Worcester.

Also, 1 Rusty Blackbird (singing, at Mt. Olive Church Rd @ Nassawango Creek),  8 gnatcatchers, and very odd, I flushed a Vesper Sparrow from the road shoulder along Mt. Olive Church Road in a largely forested area.  The grassy shoulder was quite large 20-30 feet, but otherwise it was pine forest habitat.  The bird landed and sat in a nearby tree (where I id-ed it) then flew off into the distance.

Another highlight was that with the snow cover, the Hermit Thrushes were feeding on the road shoulders, and I tallied 25 during the am.

PM highlights were a single Chimney Swift at the West OC Pond (with Tree and 2 Barn Swallows).  A personal best spring record for Worcester and ties the second best arrival date.

Then a single Iceland Gull seen at Skimmer Island and later on the rocks at the tip of the South Jetty.  Seemed to be a 2-year old.  Photos.

Good birding,
Mark Hoffman
Sykesville, MD