Hi Everyone,

It was another fun day of Eastern Shore birding.  I started the day in Dorchester County, visiting the Cambridge waterfront and then the Blackwater NWR Wildlife Drive.  The rain was light enough all morning that it didn't even register as inconvenient.  Heading north from Dorchester, I checked the Talbot County side of the Choptank River before heading up to Pickering Creek Audubon Center.  Everyone who weighed in on Talbot County suggested that I visit Pickering Creek, and I'm glad I did; what a great spot--scenic, peaceful, and full of nice birds!  Les Roslund sent me very explicit instructions for birding Pickering Creek--and all the birds were right where he said they would be.  Then it was eastbound to Caroline County, where I put the suggestions from Glen Lovelace to work.  I had never birded in Caroline County before, and the afternoon would have been much less rewarding without Glen's input.  I especially liked Idylwild WMA (Noble Road entrance), which allows access to the bottoms of Marshyhope Creek.  I saved a little light at the end of the day to visit Barren Creek Pond in Wicomico County.  A few of the highlights:

DORCHESTER COUNTY

Ducks on the Choptank in Cambridge included American Wigeon (8), Canvasback (about 900), Surf Scoter (10), Long-tailed Duck (2), Common Goldeneye (10), and about 100 scaup, mainly Lesser.

American White Pelicans (at least 9) continue at Blackwater.  It was interesting to see them in the midst of the  great congregation of Tundra Swans (about 500).  Other waterfowl at Blackwater included Northern Shoveler (15), Northern Pintail (4), Green-winged Teal (2), Hooded Merganser (2), and Common Merganser (8).  Also at Blackwater I encountered Laughing Gull and Forster's Tern (one each), about 100 Tree Swallows toward the end of the Wildlife Drive (many perched close to the road in the light rain), and much activity--Hairy Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1), Brown-headed Nuthatch (2), Fox Sparrow (1), etc.--in the woods along the first road to the left near the beginning of the Wildlife Drive.

TALBOT COUNTY

The species composition on the Talbot side of the Choptank was about the same as the Dorchester side, although I also picked up Common Loon (1), Horned Grebe (1), and a Mute Swan.

Pickering Creek was great for several species of waterfowl, including Wood Duck (9), Northern Shoveler (3), Green-winged Teal (30), and Ring-necked Duck (2); woodland birds like Pileated Woodpecker (1); and sparrows, including 5 each of Field Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow.

A flock of American Pipits (20) and at least 1 Horned Lark were in a field along Sharp Rd near Pickering Creek Audubon Center.

CAROLINE COUNTY

I would have enjoyed more time at Idylwild WMA.  Eastern Phoebe (1), both kinglet species (1 each), and Fox Sparrow (2) were some of the nice birds there.

Working my way back to Wicomico County on Houston Branch Rd at 5:30 pm, I encountered a flock of 50 Chipping Sparrows at the intersection with Liberty Church Rd.

WICOMICO COUNTY

Barren Creek Pond near Mardela Springs had Wood Duck (2), American Wigeon (7), Ring-necked Duck (25), Hooded Merganser (5), and Pied-billed Grebe (1).

FUN and GAMES

County totals so far:

Worcester--76
Somerset--52
Wicomico--54 (added 11 species today)
Dorchester--69
Talbot--58
Caroline--46

Total Species so far: 112
Total Ticks so far: 355

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD