Hi Folks,

This morning Bill Hubick, Tom Feild, Matt Tillett, Elaine and I parked at
the end of Gun Rd. (just off of Rolling Rd. in Balt. Co.) around 5:30 a.m.,
and hiked into Patapsco Valley State Park to try to relocate the White Ibis.
Daylight was just breaking when we arrived at Lost Lake, and found two imm.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONs sitting on the snags, but no ibis.  As we milled
around, the scenery changed, and one of the Yellow-crowns disappeared and
was replaced by an imm. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.  We were able to get both
of these birds in the same scope view for an excellent study of their
differences.

Joel Martin soon joined our group, having hiked in from Rolling Rd.  We were
there for perhaps 25 or 30 minutes without seeing the ibis, and getting
ready to call it quits and move on.  But before making the decision to
leave, around 6:18 a.m., a bird came zig-zagging over the trees to the north
of the pond, and found its way to the snags.  It was the imm WHITE IBIS.
Photos were taken in the as-yet low light, and all were happy for the time
being; everyone got great looks at the cooperative bird.  But, as county
listers, we wanted more.  We kept eyeing the bird, and eyeing the river,
wondering if it would make its move in that direction.  We continued to mill
around and chat, getting different views of the bird.  Then, miracle of
miracles, the bird took flight and headed for the river!  Elation!  But then
it stopped short and landed in a dead tree on the south side of the pond.
Sorrow!  Then it took flight again, but headed the wrong way.  But then it
circled over the trees, heading toward Howard Co., and none of us could see
it.  Drats!  But the lucky Matt Tillett just happened to be standing at the
right place to see the bird above the trees in Howard Co.  You lucky dog,
Matt.  What to do now.  Where did it go?  We all just kind of headed toward
the river, probably not believing we'd see the bird again.  There we are
standing on the rocks in the river, and either Tom or Bill pointed.  There
was the ibis standing on the Balt. Co. side of the Patapsco River, not more
than 100 feet from us.  Seeing the bird there made us all exclaim at once,
and this probably startled the bird, which then promptly flew to the
opposite side of the river.  A county-listers dream had come true--a rare
bird crosses the county line!  I later talked to Jo Solem, and she said
White Ibis had not been seen in Howard Co. since 1984 (one observer), and
not seen by many observers since 1980.  Thanks to Brian Sykes and Dave
Brinker, many birders may get to see this local rarity.

Anyway, other birds around during the visit:  singing! LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
on the HoCo side of the river; PROTHONOTARY WARBLER landing on the snags
over the pond; zillions of CHIMNEY SWIFTs; and vocalizing RED-EYED VIREO and
GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, all in Balt. Co.


LOGISTICS FOR VISITING POND:

1.  The park doesn't officially open till 9 a.m., but they often open the
gate a bit early, as Jo Solem found out this morning.  There is a nominal
entry fee.  The entrance is off of US 1 immediately south of I-195; further
directions, if needed, are given in Bill Hubick's initial post.

2.  If you want to go in before park opening, there are (ONLY) four parking
spots at the south end of Gun Rd., and you have to get there EARLY to grab
one, since hikers and joggers park here.  This morning there was one other
car in the lot when we left around 7 a.m.  From this parking area, go
through the two sets of gates on each side of the RR tracks, and then take
the first right, and walk to the end of the road to Lost Lake, which is
really a small pond.

3.  To get to the river from the pond, there is a small path at the
southeast corner of the pond area.  This path has a VERY steep section where
you may have to use hands and feet to negotiate the decent/ascent.  Those
with leg and knee difficulties may want to find a gentler way down to the
river, perhaps through the woods.

I know that most Howard Co. birders will probably want to see this bird, in
Howard Co.  It will take patience and luck (we were heavy on the luck this
morning).  We now know the bird can be found in this area in the morning and
in the evening.  There are 16 nearby ponds lined up along the Patapsco
River, mostly in Anne Arundel Co..  Who's going to be the first to spot the
bird there?

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie