On Monday, I made a quick swing along the Worcester County coast from 
southern Delaware.  The tremendous cold winds of Sunday gave way to a 
strange stillness on Monday, but even though Ocean City Inlet was 
easy to look at, there wasn't much to see:  a few Long-tailed Ducks, 
Black Ducks and Brant, with no Eiders in view. There was one adult 
Lesser Black-backed Gull.  There were a lot of Common Loons, both in 
the Inlet and in the channel by Skimmer Island, which had 31 American 
Oystercatchers (a record number for me) and a few Sanderling and Dunlin.

West Ocean City Pond was 90% frozen on Monday, with correspondingly 
fewer birds than customary.  There were 5 adult Tundra Swans there, 
accompanied by 2 gray young ones.

The road at the end of South Point gave a nice view of a large flock 
of Surf Scoters -- I estimated their number to be about 300.  There 
were also hundreds of Buffleheads here and in the bay around the 
bridge to Assateague Island, where I saw my only Horned Grebes of the day.

Best birding, by far, was at the Bayside Community just off Route 
611.  The pond was covered with ducks, with American Wigeon, Gadwall, 
and Ring-necked Duck well represented.  A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was 
in with the Baldpate. Maybe this is the same bird that has spent 
several successive winters in with the Wigeon at the Eagles Nest golf 
course pond a little distance to the North.

Other ducks here were Mallard, Black, Hooded Merganser, and a single 
hen Little Scaup.  The short grass around the community was swarming 
with small birds, especially Yellow-rumped Warbler, Junco, House 
Finch, Chipping Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow. Also one Western race 
Palm Warbler and a lot of Eastern Bluebirds.  After the awful weather 
the previous day, I was amazed to see half a dozen Tree 
Swallows.  I'm indebted to Marshall Iliff for bringing the existence 
of this place to my attention. It's a community that isn't fully 
built up yet, and I hope it continues to be available to birders.

Good Birding to all.

Mike Bowen
Bethesda, MD and Dewey Beach, DE

D.H.Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817-3845
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom