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Subject:

Day Nine: St Marys and Calvert

From:

Ronald Gutberlet

Reply-To:

Ronald Gutberlet

Date:

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:17:17 -0400

Hi Everyone,

We spent the final day of our spring break in St Marys and Calvert Counties, benefiting from substantial assistance from Tyler Bell.  Tyler provided specific suggestions for birding both counties, and we were able to follow most of his route and still spend several hours at a family get-together in Calvert County--a fitting conclusion to our Home Again Tour.  Many thanks to Jim Brighton, Dan Haas, Matt Hafner, Sue Hamilton, John Hubbell, and Bill Hubick, who also offered input on these two counties.  We couldn't use all the information this time, but we have a feeling that we'll be consulting it again soon!

ST MARYS COUNTY

Our drive from Lexington Park to Point Lookout was very birdy, and we had recorded over 20 species--including a big flock of Cedar Waxwings--before we even entered the state park.  A few of the birds at Point Lookout State Park:

Eared Grebe--1 on north side of the causeway (breeding plumage; most distinctive was the peaked crown, a head shape completely different from the many nearby Horned Grebes)
Brown Pelican--2 flew by the Point
Northern Gannet--4 close to shore at the Point; great views
Bonaparte's Gull--1 flew by the Point
Barn Swallow--1 flew by the Point (low and direct)

We left Point Lookout at 10:00 am, having already found 52 species.  We had only needed 42 species today to reach our goal of 1000 total ticks!  We then headed north, adding a few species here and there as we checked side roads suggested by Tyler:

Chipping Sparrow (3), Field Sparrow (1), and Eastern Meadowlark (1) on Camp Brown Rd; a Killdeer and more Field Sparrows (2) on Long Neck Rd; and some nice water birds at the Beauvue Ponds:

Mute Swan--1
Gadwall--4
Ring-necked Duck--38
Lesser Scaup--2
Pied-billed Grebe--1

CALVERT COUNTY

As we entered Calvert County, we checked the Patuxent River from the boat ramp under the bridge.  Birds here included:

Long-tailed Duck--5
Common Loon--1
Northern Gannet--2
Mallard--3--closeout number one!!!

Then it was time to meet the rest of the family in Sunderland.  We added 15 species for Calvert County from the great yard there.  Just before we left, Carol pointed out a Pileated Woodpecker flying over the front yard.

We ended the day and this birding adventure at North Beach in Calvert County:

Northern Shoveler--1 male right at the shoreline in that nice evening light
Red-breasted Merganser--2
Common Loon--1

Earlier, when we arrived in Sunderland, I noticed that we had not encountered any Canada Geese--our only other closeout possibility--in Calvert County.  In North Beach, as the sun set and the glow on the western horizon began to fade, four long-necked birds flapped over the marsh.  A binocular view revealed the telltale black and white pattern on head and neck, and a few barks and honks confirmed the identification.  Closeout number two!


FUN and GAMES

Worcester--76
Somerset--52
Wicomico--65
Dorchester--69
Talbot--59
Caroline--46
Queen Annes--41
Anne Arundel--54
Kent--38
Cecil--35
Harford--40
Baltimore--46
Carroll--33
Howard--38
Frederick--43
Washington--36
Garrett--41
Allegany--36
Montgomery--35
Charles--30
Prince Georges--47
St Marys--65
Calvert--41

Total Species: 132 (2 species added today--Eared Grebe and Brown Pelican)

Total Ticks: 1064

Wow, we did it!  Thanks for all the help and encouragement!

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD