Somehow I managed to miss Dan Haas and the Cackling and White-fronted  Geese 
this afternoon at Pickering Creek. Fortunately I did not miss the Poplar  
Island trip, expertly arranged by Dan, that preceded. I know there were a  lot of 
satisfied customers, especially after the previous day's negative reports  on 
the Snowy Owl had us all prepared for disappointment.
 
While not as exciting as the rare geese, one particular sighting at  
Pickering Creek was quite a surprise. While walking the road through the woods  toward 
the boat dock, I saw up ahead a large blackbird flock, perhaps  100 birds or 
more, on the ground and in the trees around the sanctuary  buildings. 
Expecting them to be grackles and cowbirds, I was amazed to see that  75% or more were 
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, the remainder being COMMON GRACKLES. This was  by far the 
most Rusties I've seen in a single flock.
 
Sparrows were also present in good numbers around the property: CHIPPING  
(1), FIELD (6), SAVANNAH (15), FOX (2), SONG (25), SWAMP (3) and WHITE-THROATED  
(10). Plus TOWHEE and JUNCO, which of course aren't really sparrows. The  
Savannahs showed a wide range of plumage variations, from colorful and strongly  
marked to soft and subtle, but all were striking. Sometimes I think they're  
the most elegant of all our sparrows. I also got a good look at a huge Delmarva  
Fox Squirrel.
 
Joel Martin
Catonsville, MD
 (mailto:[log in to unmask])  
 
 
In a message dated 12/2/2008 4:38:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
 writes:

Just an  FYI, after the successful trip to see the Poplar Island SNOWY
OWL and SNOW  BUNTINGS (Purple Sandpipers were nice too), I drove all
around the Tunis  Mills area searching for the reported Greater White
Fronted Goose.  I  lucked into TWO of them in flight at Pickering Creek
(photos to be posted  to the blog soon).  Mixed in with the flock was a
very petite  off-colored Canada Goose, my first Richardson's Cackling
Goose.

More  soon on the detailed results of the Poplar Island trip.  Until
then,  have a lovely week.

Best,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis,  MD

http://wahzoh.blogspot.com/


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