Hi Everyone,

I went for a run around the perimeter of Fort Smallwood after work today and was surprised to spot an immature male Surf Scoter. The bird was between Fort Smallwood and White Rocks, drifting general east about 50-100 yards out. The bird had a very orange bill with some visible white at the base. I could see that it had a bit of white on the forehead and a plain cheek around its bright white eye. It clearly did not feature the teardrop of an adult male White-winged, nor any other facial patterning. It didn't show any white in the wings when it stretched several times. It showed only the suggestion of a white patch on the back of the neck, as seen in this photo I found from Monterey Bay: http://montereybay.com/creagrus/mtymiss04.html. Matt Grey joined me at the location and enjoyed the strange sight. We're hoping for Black Skimmer and Gull-billed Tern, but this was pretty cool for June 25th.

A COMMON TERN flew by while we were chatting, as did 5 Herring Gulls. One LEAST TERN flew past before Matt arrived.

There seems to be quite a bit of dispersal going on. A GREAT EGRET showed up on a tiny pond behind my work (northern AA Co.), while an ORCHARD ORIOLE sang from a random shrub in the middle of the parking lot. A BELTED KINGFISHER was calling over the pond at Fort Smallwood, where I hadn't seen any since moving here.

Good birding,

Bill
 
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com