After battling a nearly 3 mile backup on 50 to cross the Bay bridge
so an out of town guest could visit Blackwater, yesterday's count led
off with a pleasant surprise. Coming out of the the Visitors Center I
recognized a familiar plate from PA and lo and behold, there was
Harry Armistead and family, so there was a pleasant hour spent on and
off with him. Between sharing his birding expertise and the ever
changing nature dynamics at Blackwater, he regaled us with passages
from the Jabberwocky and Woody Guthrie. The unexpected company was a
treat because the birding did not live up to my post-Hannah hopes.
Seen:
1 Harry Armistead
2 Merlin on Egypt Road
5 adult bald eagles
4 ruby throated hummers at the Visitor's Center
1 Broadwing hawk
5 Caspian Terns
5 Forsters Terns
10 great egrets
5 great blue herons
small flocks of semi-palmated Sandpipers and
Least Sandpipers (maybe in groups of 15)
20 blue wing teals
15 greater yellow-legs who were were tattling our every move on Wildlife Drive.
One little old painted turtle that hesitated in the middle of the
road. A car was approaching and not realizing it was Harry so we got
it to the shoulder where upon he hauled turtle tail down the bank. We
got points for helping the "turkle" cross the road.
2 eastern watersnakes (one in the impoundment and the other trying to
get across 335 who quickly became became roadkill)
Numerous Turkey Vultures
And finally, on the way to Hoopers Island (where there was nothing
much going on) there were three black vultures who were huddled on
the stoop, peering into someone's front porch. No matter how you
parse it, there's something really wrong about that visual.
--
Melanie Lynch
Annapolis |