Folks,
I spent two days on the shore this past weekend. Saturday, I noticed
this silver Subaru wagon with a "Save the Mattawoman" bumper sticker
pulling out in front of me onto Route 50 East near the Queenstown
Outlets. It was none other than George & Gwen Jett. I called him at
a stop light to learn that we were both headed to the same location.
George was on his way to photograph the Clay-Colored Sparrow for his
ABC fund-raising big photo year (more info here:
http://www.georgejett.com). And me? Well, I just wanted to add one
more to the life list. I'm attempting, in a much easier way, to reach
the $1,000 donation mark for ABC in 2008... with my music sales (from
http://cdbaby.com/cd/danhaasbensbones). I've earned over $700 thus
far. I would like to publicly thank George for his effort, and
hopefully I might be able help him find at least one more bird for his
project before the year's end.
Moving on... this email was posted on Delaware's list serv, but it
applies here in MD too.
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Hello all,
Forrest Rowland speaking. Due to some speculation as of late regarding
what I'd rather see more in Delaware (White-winged Crossbill or Snowy
Owl) I decided to check some other listservs North of us. As many of
you may have already noticed, both are appearing in large numbers, but
Snowy Owl is leading the race to Delaware.
There are reports of Snowy Owl from Every Coastal State North of New
Jersey already. In Connecticut this species is being seen at 3
separate locations. Snowies turned up weeks ago in Massachusetts. Most
enticing is the report with accompanying photo of a Snowy Owl seen
last week South of us, at Chincoteague. So far, it looks like this
could be a Winter for Snowy Owl.
Other birds to look for in the coming weeks include Western Kingbird
(3 seen over the past week at various places in NJ) and Townsend's
Solitaire, which are nearly annual in New Jersey, but very rare here.
Both perch conspicuously atop trees and Western Kingbirds frequently
use telephone lines and roadsigns as perches to hawk insects from.
Good luck to everyone.
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Now, back to the Worcester County weekend...
I had no luck finding the Clay-Colored Sparrow on Saturday in between
the downpours of rain. But, in the afternoon I managed to run into
Gwen and George (yet again, this time not in a moving vehicle) at the
Bayside campground loop B &C. Gwen spotted a very nice DICKCISSEL
feasting in the grass with the zillions (technical term for lots and
lots) of sparrows. Great spot. Thank you Gwen!
I drove home in the dark happy, despite missing that elusive
Clay-Colored Sparrow.
So very early on Sunday (the wife and son are in FLA for the weekend),
I decided to go birding again. Decisions, Decisions... Drive to
Western, MD and meet up with J.B. Churchill
(http://www.westernmdbirding.com/) in the forecasted snow and rain, or
head back to Worcester County's forecasted sun and yes, hopefully...
finally... see that sparrow?
Coin flip.... drumroll... tails wins.
Welcome to Assateague Island.
At 4AM, I picked up Chris Murray, fresh off of his night-shift working
at the cafe in Annapolis (he enjoys birding on no sleep whatsoever)
and we headed East. Immediately after arriving on the island, we
scanned the campground loop, famous recent home of this
much-sought-after Clay-Colored Sparrow. In the distance, we both hear
a Screech Owl calling. I mean, this owl sounded exactly like the
Stokes CD owl. It was as if that very bird was giving a performance
just for us, as it had for the Stokes. 'What a nice welcome', we
think.
Then, we hear a distant scream emanating from the direction of the bay
"AUDUBON'S!!!!"
Quickly we discover that we are not alone on the island. The tribe
had spoken. Ok, well... Bill Hubick had spoken. He had located an
Audubon's Yellow-Rumped Warbler feeding on the beach area near the
canoe building. I'll let him tell you the rest of that story.
Lucky for Chris and I, the island was littered with the Hall of Fame
of Maryland's Birding Community... except you of course... the person
reading this email who didn't make the trip to the island this
weekend. You were missed.
I digress.
After a fine morning of birding the canoe launch and parking area, a
group of us venture off to check the campground loop to search for
rarities. Again, no Clay-Colored Sparrows were seen. While we slowly
walked the loop, Mikey Lutmerding gets a phone call from Jim Stasz
back at the parking lot. The Clay-colored Sparrow was hanging out
with two Savannah Sparrows. You know what happens next... we walk
back to zero sign of the bird.
Chris and I returned one last time yesterday to look one more time
before the sun set. Again, the bird remained hidden.
Upset? Not a chance. I'm happy to report that I located ONE of the
famous resident EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES at South Point, thanks to J.B.
Churchill's little word of advice he gave over the phone to me
yesterday afternoon. "I sometimes like to look in those pine trees by
the red house," he told me. At that point, I look up and see the
large, pale dove. Thanks J.B. A photo of this lovely dove is now on
my blog.
Other interesting birds this weekend: a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER from South
Point on Saturday, an OSPREY headed up and North from Eagle's Nest
Campground, a male PRAIRIE WARBLER that I saw last week and again on
Saturday on the Western shore of the bridge onto Assateague Island.
Oh, and there were those few SWALLOWS that stayed just far enough away
to confirm any identification.
As far as the Snowy Owl irruption mentioned by Mr. Rowland above, in
the past I recall hearing stories of Snowy Owls in Hillsmere section
of Annapolis, on some telephone polls on Elliott Island Road (I
believe it was that road)... but maybe some of you who've been doing
this for some time might lend your expertise to areas most likely to
have a visiting Snowy?
Finally, as for any detailed report from yesterday... information
about that muddy field on Rt 50 that Mikey found laden with waders, or
the tallies from a quick trip around the Rum Pointe Golf Course, or
even the full report from our morning on the island... well, I'll
leave that to any of the other fine birders that were present.
Good Birding All,
Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD
http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/ |