MDOspreyers,

 

At about 315pm today (2/9/08) Sherman Suter and I spotted an Aechmophorus
Grebe about 600m (+/-) off the end of Governors Run in Calvert Co.   The
bird was within a few hundred meters of the green buoy and was alone.  The
waves were much smaller this afternoon at this location permitting
reasonable viewing into the Bay; also sunny and pleasant with just a slight
breeze.  In brief, large grebe, long neck, white foreneck, gray-black
hindneck, gray-black back, large light-colored bill, black on top of head,
white in the lower portion of the face.  Larger than nearby Long-tailed
Ducks.  Unable to discern extent of black on top of head in to face, nor
discern yellow in bill color, nor if color of flanks near waterline
lightened to whitish-gray.  (Phil, Sherman will submit full details to which
we both agreed to at the time of sighting).  Viewing through the usual
scopes we carry.

 

In addition, during our morning visit to Point Lookout, we did not find any
of the previously reported rarities although did observe the 3 scoters
species and Long-tailed Ducks - it was cloudy at the time with steady winds
scaled at about 3, there were 2-3 foot swells with occasional white caps and
it was quite chilly.  Most unusual species for us at Pt LO was Gray Catbird.
Most abundant species was Bufflehead closely followed by Greater Scaup.
Horned Grebes were noted in just about all the locations at which we stopped
today.

 

Kurt Gaskill