For the Rarity Round-up Tom Field and myself surveyed the north end of Assateague Island from the State Park up to the south jetty of the Ocean City inlet.  Our 9.5 hour walk did not produce anything too unusual. Notable sightings:

Snow Bunting --41
Ipswich Sparrow -- 14
Semipalmated Plover -- 1
Lesser Yellowlegs -- 1
White-winged Scoter -- 2
Winter Wren -- 1

We had a total of 51 species which is the lowest total for our trek up Assateague in the few years I have been covering the area for the Round-up.  Only 13 passerine species were observed.  

On Sunday after chasing the Collared-Doves and Cave Swallows, Mikey Lutmerding, John Hubbel, and myself found a single Salt Marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow at the West Ocean City Park and Ride.

Later on in the day Dave Powell, Mikey Lutmerding, and myself had a Brown-headed Nuthatch on the north end of North Tara Road in Dorchester County.  This is notable because it is very close to the Caroline County Line.  I do not know of any Brown-headed Nuthatches being reported in Caroline County in recent times (past 5 or more years?).  Anyone birding in the Federalsburg area of Caroline County should pay special attention to the pines that border the Marshy Hope River for nuthatches.

Jim Brighton
Oxford, Md


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