Inspired by Bill Hubick's posting on Monday, I spent yesterday 
afternoon on the Eastern Shore.  I had the most success on Elliott 
Island Road.  I found the SEDGE WREN reported by Bill, in exactly 
the same spot - by the first "Fishing Bay" sign.  It was being very 
elusive, naturally, but I got three separate fleeting looks at it - enough 
to convince me that it was indeed a Sedge Wren (a state bird for me).  
In the same area there was a very cooperative SEASIDE SPARROW.  
Further down the road, past the boat ramp, I saw many SALTMARSH 
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, 6 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and 2  
SOLITARY SANDPIPERS.  I may also have seen a Western Kingbird. 
It was flying away from me, fast - in the area where the road makes 
the nearly right-angle turn to the north - but I was unable to relocate it. 
If I remember correctly, there was one reported from Elliott Island 
about a month ago.  Might be worth keeping an eye out for it, if you're 
over there.

Late in the afternoon I made a quick swing through Blackwater NWR.  
The water was very high in the Blackwater River, so there was no 
shorebird habitat to speak of on that side.  On the other side of the 
wildlife drive, however, there were a modest number of "peeps"  
(maybe 20-24).  I decided that a majority of the ones I looked at were 
SEMIPALMATED, with a smaller number of LEAST, but I also identified 
1 WESTERN SANDPIPER.  Also present were 3 SHORT-BILLED 
DOWITCHERS, several KILLDEER, and 1 SNOWY EGRET.

On the way to Blackwater I surprised a flock of WILD TURKEYS along 
Bestpitch Ferry Road - about a half dozen hens and an equal number of 
fuzzy young ones.

It was a great afternoon - in spite of the heat and the flies!
   
Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD  (PG County)



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