I decided to skip out on errands after work today (7/23),
Hi Everyone,
I decided to skip out on errands after work today (7/23), and birded several sites in Carroll and Howard Counties. I started at the Westminster Airport to look for Bob Ringler's UPLAND SANDPIPERs, but the best I could do in 30 minutes of scanning was a singing SAVANNAH SPARROW and several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs. I continued on to Western Regional Park in Howard Co., where Bill Hill and I scoped a small collection of shorebirds: KILLDEER (~5), SOLITARY SANDPIPER (1), SPOTTED SANDPIPER (1), and LEAST SANDPIPERs (~10). HORNED LARKs landed on the flats several times, and we spotted an EASTERN MEADOWLARK in the field across the road (county closeout). I checked the sod fields near Roxbury and Triadelphia Roads for Upland Sandpipers without any luck, but did turn up a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Big Branch on Triadelphia Reservoir, which looked great for shorebirds.
On the home front, Rock Creek (west of Fort Smallwood) is hosting increasing numbers of gulls. A kayak ride upstream yesterday turned up about 12 LAUGHING GULLs, the first I've seen in the area since May. Also present were about 20 HERRING GULLs and 4 RING-BILLED GULLs. My first Ring-billed Gulls since May showed up last week.
Here's a shot of the WHITE IBIS at Merkle on Saturday. The light was very challenging, but this turned out OK under the circumstances.
http://billhubick.com/images/white_ibis_pg_md_20070721_04.jpg
Have a good week!
Bill
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
http://www.billhubick.com |