The strong winds of last week brought some nice birds into Talbot
County.
 
    On Nov 1st around home on Leeds Creek the new arrivals included a Winter
Wren and six Purple Finches.  A total of 31 species were on the place during
an hour of birding that morning.
 
    On Oct 31st over at Pickering Creek one of the seasonal staff (Kelsey
Frey) located and photographed a Greater White-fronted Goose amongst the
several thousand Canada Geese on the creek as viewed from the new Pickering
Creek pier.  Two Snow Geese were also in that group.  Elsewhere on the
grounds some Fox Sparrows showed up.  White-crowned Sparrows have been there
for several days.
 
    Black Walnut Point on Tilghman Island continues to show good birds.
This morning (Nov 2) Jan Reese reported seeing a great flock of migrating
vultures.  About 215 vultures were present.  Close inspection revealed other
birds in the flock, including 6 Red-shouldered Hawks, 10 Red-tailed Hawks
and also some Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks.  It was also a big
morning for terns - 18 Royal Terns and 615 Forster's Terns!  Around 125
Cedar Waxwings were present; also several Pine Siskins and a Meadowlark.
 
    And finally, last week after the two days of terribly strong winds from
north and west, the MES workers out on Poplar Island reported to Jan Reese
that they had seen a RING-NECKED PHEASANT out there.  From whence commeth
this bird?  (The southern tip of Kent Island is about five miles from Poplar
Island.  The closest land in Anne Arundel County is around 7.5 miles
distant.)
 
Les Roslund
Talbot County
Easton MD 21601