Hi All,
After reading all the gem-packed reports from the OC area and seeing Bill
and Matt's pictures from last weekend I could not resist taking yesterday
off from work and enjoy the lovely weather on the Eastern Shore.

I started off by searching for the Swainson's Hawk around the town of
Hurlock, Do Co. and put a good three hours in without luck. Instead I
found the following birds:
Tundra Swan---several hundred birds at the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
and in neighboring fields
Snow Goose---7 birds at the STP and a huge flock of between 5-10,000 birds
including many blue morphs in some fields along Rt.331 south before the
town of Rhodesdale
ROSS'S GOOSE---1 adult in the large Snow Goose flock
Bald Eagle---at least 6 individuals making several attacks on the geese
flocks in the area
OSPREY---1 perched on a nest along US50 near Skipton!
Northern Harrier---1 adult male in Hurlock
Red-tailed Hawk--- surprisingly scarce with only one bird seen in the area
Sharp-shinned Hawk---2
American Kestrel---3
Killdeer---30+ birds by STP
Horned Lark---100+ birds scattered over the area. Males were singing
relentlessly all morning and chasing females
PALM WARBLER---2 in weedy field in Hurlock along Medford Rd. The one I saw
well was of the western race.

Ocean City Inlet:
Harlequin Duck---2 males
Peregrine Falcon---1 adult female perched on the OC water tower
Common Loon---11
Red-throated Loon---2
Northern Gannet---12 adults in formation migrating south
Great Cormorant---1 immature
Sanderling---7
Purple Sandpiper---6
Ruddy Turnstone---10
Bonaparte's Gull---15+

Skimmer Island:
American Oystercatcher---9
Yellow-rumped Warbler---8

West OC pond:
Black-crowned Night-Heron---5 adults and 3 immatures
Gadwall---2 pairs
Northern Shoveler---10+
Northern Pintail---50+

Ocean Pines Ponds:
Canvasback---100's
Hooded Merganser---14

1 scabby looking fox at the OC Park-and-Ride. The tail was so thin I could
hardly ID it, but based on the facial and body coloration I would guess a
Gray Fox?. Photos will be posted on flickr.com soon.

Happy Birdy Year to All,

Frode Jacobsen
Ten Hills, Baltimore, Maryland