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Subject:

Cattle Egrets (near Pocomoke City)

From:

Marcy Stutzman

Reply-To:

Marcy Stutzman

Date:

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 08:44:10 -0400

I've been in Snow Hill, MD, on the Eastern Shore for the past week and 
yesterday headed to Janes Island State Park near Crisfield, MD, intrigued by  
Jennifer Elmer's recent report. (Mabye I should have headed to Assateague 
Island yesterday based on Jim Stasz's report.)

In Somerset County, just after turning onto Rt 677 South from Rt 13 North 
from Pocomoke City in the morning, I looked to my right and noticed about 12 
Cattle Egrets along with a smaller number of cattle. When I returned there 
around noon, neither the cattle nor egrets were in the front field.

At Janes Island State Park, I arrived after a small fallout of the warblers had 
already left. I spoke with two other birders who had a good list. Most of the 
trees in the park are pitch pine (needles are in bundles of three), I believe. A 
good amount of birding was done right from the parking lot where I was 
treated to a small flock of Red-breasted Nuthatches. The other birders 
reported finding warblers also in the pines around the same area. There was an 
immature Little Blue Heron in Daughtery Creek across from the park's nature 
center and store. And the Sharp-shinned Hawk that scared the warblers away, 
also made an appearance for me.

I continued to check out the park and walked the fitness trail. Thousands of 
Common Grackles streamed into the trees from the east to the west. It was 
chilling and awesome at the same time.

If you venture to Janes Island, be sure to check out the pine trees on the 
right just after turning onto Alfred Lawson Drive as you enter the park. I heard 
some activity while driving in (but didn't stop). While leaving, I did, and a Pine 
Warbler showed himself and I heard more Red-breasted Nuthaches.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD (Anne Arundel County)
Snow Hill, MD (Worcester County for the next week, too)