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Re: Assateague - good shorebirding?

From:

Leo Weigant

Reply-To:

Leo Weigant

Date:

Tue, 20 May 2008 09:41:37 -0400

Marcy,

Ed's message reminded me that -- for those who don't have access to  
an off-road vehicle/SUV --
it is possible to walk north of the State Park parking lot (go  
straight into it after crossing the
Sinepuxent Bay Bridge, do not turn right along the Nat. Pk hwy).

If you're willing to hike something like 3 miles round trip up to the  
piping plover nesting area
(take your scope and scan from the ropes demarking its boundaries and  
watch around the
wire anti-fox cages) you can usually see them.

I usually go around sunrise the 1st week in June (hoping to avoid the  
heat) though I'd check
what time the Parking Lot opens.   I have almost always seen them.    
You'll
go through a well defended least tern nesting area as a bonus.      
The nude sunbathing has
been curtailed by the rangers, so you'll avoid that awkward social  
situation when such folk
would see you coming along binoculars in hand.

Last week I saw piping plovers nesting much nearer at hand on the  
beach north of Rehobeth in the
Gordon Pond Preserve.   so if you're not deeply into a yearly MD  
list, that might be more convenient.

Best of luck.

Leo Weigant

PS I tried sending this directly to you, but for some reason my ISP  
balked at your netscape address.   Sorry.



On May 20, 2008, at 7:30 AM, Marcy Stutzman wrote:

> I was wondering what the recent storms might have done for finding
> shorebirds on Assateague Island. Since summer and hordes of people  
> are right
> around the corner, the next couple of days might be the last to  
> try. Please
> reply offline. Thanks.
>
> Marcy Stutzman
> Russett, MD
> 
>