I spent an outstanding weekend on the Eastern Shore. Belo
Hi Everyone,

I spent an outstanding weekend on the Eastern Shore. Below are some of the many highlights. Pardon the abridged format, but I'll never get it posted if I don't finish now!

In case you don't make it through the long list, I posted some new photos at http://billhubick.com/new_set.html

Thursday, 7/26  (w/ Jim Brighton after Horsehead)

Horsehead, QA Co. - Completely dry. Out on the flats were deer foraging on extensive dry vegetation. Mute Swan (7), Brown-headed Nuthatch (1)

Spring Rd, Talbot Co. - Killdeer (20), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Lesser Yellowlegs (5), Pectoral Sandpiper (10), Least (50), Solitary (7), Least Tern (2), Mallard (200+; most if not all are released), Great Egret (2), Snowy Egret (8), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (1)

Llandalf Rd. Ponds, Talbot Co. - Green Heron (4), Killdeer (5), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Spotted Sandpiper (1)

Easton STP, Talbot Co. - Small pond almost completely dry. On large pond: Ruddy Duck (2),  Killdeer (8), Least Sandpiper (100+), Semipalmated Sandpiper (1+), peep sp. (100), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Greater Yellowlegs (2), Bank Swallow (2)

Tanyard Marsh, Caroline Co. - Common Moorhen (3), Forster's Tern (3)

Easton Airport, Talbot Co. - Eastern Meadowlark (8), Grasshopper Sparrow (2), no Uppies.

Pickering Creek, Talbot Co. - Killdeer (20), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Lesser Yellowlegs (8), Least Sandpiper (30), Semi-Sand (5), Pectoral (2), Barred Owl (2), Eastern Towhee; Eastern Garter Snake; Damselflies: Rambur's Forktail, Citrine Forktail, Familiar Bluet.

Friday, 7/27 (w/ Tom Feild)

Old Bradley Road, Wicomico Co. - Fields: Northern Bobwhite (2). Woods: Acadian Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Summer Tanager

Mardela Springs, Wicomico Co. - Northern Bobwhite calling, Wood Duck (2), Protho

Mill Branch Rd., Wicomico Co. - Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow

Porter Mill Rd., Wicomico Co. - Small pond had Least Sandpiper (3), Purple Martin colony still seems active

Rewastico Rd., Wicomico Co. - Northern Bobwhite, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (appropriate habitat just west of Braggs Rd.), White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Quantico Creek, Wicomico Co. - Green Heron (county closeout), WE Vireo, Protho

Wetipquin Marsh, Wicomico Co. - Brown Pelican, Marsh Wren, Forster's Tern

Tyaskin, Wicomico Co. - Little Blue Heron (1 imm.), Royal Tern (2), Ring-billed Gull, Forster's Tern (4)

Cedar Hill Marina, Wicomico Co. - Royal Tern (2), Bald Eagle (1 ad.), Snowy Egret, Brown-headed Nuthatch

Jesterville Flats, Wicomico Co. - Great Egret, Snowy Egret (2)

Roaring Point, Wicomico Co. - Brown Pelican, Royal Tern (12), Herring Gull (12)

Nanticoke Harbor, Wicomico Co. - Brown Pelican, ABDU x MALL hybrid, Royal Tern (10), 14 Diamondback Terrapins sunning on jetty.

Muddy Hole Rd., Wicomico Co. - Dry enough that Tom's car made it!  BH Nuthatch (5), Virginia Rail (at western bridge), Summer Tanager, Marsh Wren

Salisbury Airport, Wicomico Co. - Grasshopper Sparrow (10), Horned Larks heard

Webster's Cove Harbor, Somerset Co. - Royal Tern (4)

Saturday, 7/28 (Field trip to Nanticoke River)

Excellent field trip. Almost all of the same birds mentioned for 7/27 were found. Nice views at Grasshopper Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Royal Tern, Brown Pelican, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Red-headed Woodpecker. I hope everyone had a good time!

(After field trip w/ Becky and Jim Brighton)

Hobbs x Winterplace Roads, Wicomico Co. - Solitary Sandpiper (4)

Salisbury Airport on Fooks Rd., Wicomico Co. - UPLAND SANDPIPER (1)

Twilley Bridge Rd., Wicomico Co. - Mike Walsh (1), Black-and-white Warbler (1), Worm-eating Warbler (1), family of Eastern Phoebes; Mocha Emerald

Taylor's Landing, Worcester Co. - GULL-BILLED TERN (1), Common Tern (1)

Vaughn North, Worcester Co. - Great collection of waders and shorebirds - should be checked regularly during this dry spell!  Great Blue Heron (5), Great Egret (7), Snowy Egret (10+), Little Blue Heron (20+; mostly immatures), Tricolored Heron (6; including immatures), Glossy Ibis (15; many immatures), Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs (2), Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Least Sandpiper (6), Semi-Sand (3), STILT SANDPIPER (2), Solitary (3), Wood Duck, Mallard, AB Duck

Sunday, 7/29 (w/ Becky and Jim Brighton)

Elliott Island Rd., Dorchester Co. - BLACK-NECKED STILT (6), Short-billed Dowitcher (1), SEDGE WREN (1; by first Fishing Bay sign), probable GULL-BILLED TERN (seen for only a few moments; still need to see if distant photos are conclusive), Black-crowned Night-Heron (1 ad.), Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Yellow Warbler (3), Virginia Rail, Marsh Wrens and Seaside Sparrows abundant; Four-spotted Pennant. Field trip in area reported great views at a family of LEAST BITTERNs

Blackwater NWR, Dorchester Co. - Short-billed Dowitcher (5), Greater Yellowlegs (3), Lesser (5), Least (30), Semi-Sand (3), AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (10), Great Egret (20); Cloudless Sulfur, Horace's Duskywing, Viceroy, Gray Hairstreak

Sharptown Bridge, Wicomico Co. - Bank Swallow (1), two Cliff Swallow nests but none seen (birds seen by George Jett's trip on Saturday), Royal Tern (3), Least Tern (1)

Brookview Bridge on Marshy Hope, Dorchester Co. - Cliff Swallow (1), Forster's Tern (20+)

Pig Farm, Dorchester Co. - Solitary Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper (5), Laughing Gull (100s, many juveniles)

Hurlock in the rain, Dorchester Co. - 100s of shorebirds, but terrible viewing conditions. Identified included Killdeer (5), Greater Yellowlegs (4), Lesser (6), Pectoral (12), Least (60+), Semi-Sand (12+), Spotted (15), Solitary (1); Bank Swallows (10+), Tree Swallows, Summer Tanager calling in distance

Whew!  Now that's a full weekend of birding!

Have a great week - I'm off to Texas for a week...

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com