Hi all. Happy New Year! Sharing the disappointment from the lack of a Northern Shrike at Cromwell yesterday, I thought I would just take it easy around the house today and finish up some painting my wife wanted me to do. I got a call from Chris Starling that he had some Long-tailed Ducks down at the harbor in North East. So I slipped out to North East. I wasn't able to locate them, but the wind was up real high and the waves were pretty big. I did get 3 Hooded Mergs in the creek and at least 50 Bonapartes Gulls fishing all over the harbor and river area.
Anyway, when I got home I looked in the feeders and there was a Chipping Sparrow feeding on my deck. I have been expecting a Tree Sparrow any day because I have been seeing them all over near my house, but I didn't expect a Chippy.
Then again unexpectedly, I had a Merlin buzz my feeders and take chase to something that was hiding under my deck and in a flash it was gone.
Sean McCandless
Cecil Bird Club President
Elkton, MD