In Gail's original message there needs to be some clarification. Indeed, the 
western docks are part of the Cambridge Yacht Club (Private Property) whose 
entrance is at the end of Mill Street at Water Street. However, the eastern 
docks that are accessible at the end of High Street are separate from those 
of the yacht club. The caps of the pilings will show you which docks you are 
on; the CYC pilings are capped white and the other docks (not sure who runs 
them) are capped black. You cannot get to the docks capped white from the 
docks capped black, the white capped docks are only accessible from the CYC. 
According to Winger West, birders have permission to walk onto the docks 
that are capped black from High Street (Winger, please correct me if I have 
any of this incorrect). The gas house that is topped with a red roof, that 
gives birders a slightly elevated view of the river area and is favored by a 
lot of birders scanning for the ducks is reached from High Street. When the 
birds are in the open water between the CYC and and the park at the point to 
the west, there is no need to venture onto the yacht club property because 
the birds can just as easily be viewed for the parking lot outside of the 
yacht club gates.

There is some indication that the CYC is not completely welcome to 
non-members, although a few people walked onto the property yesterday and 
were not chased away. I would suggest that if you choose to walk onto the 
property that you absolutely do not walk onto the docks adjacent to the CYC 
(remember - pilings capped by white) so that these folks don't stop 
tolerating our presence. Viewing of the far northwest corner of the docks 
can be had from near the gazebo next to and on the east side of the CYC main 
building. To proceed farther would likely flush the birds out of the marina 
waters anyway. Let's try to be good neighbors, set a good example of how 
birders behave and maybe we can not only be tolerated by these folks, but 
welcomed at all times in the future.

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gail B. Mackiernan <>" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 5:45 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Cambridge Duck Trifecta


> The Cambridge Yacht Club (marina's official name ) was definitely THE 
> place to be today!
>
>Thanks also to the Yacht Club which was very tolerant of the birders out on 
>their piers, just hope no one gets TOO excited and falls overboard!
>
> Nasty rain on way home, good to be inside now but a great days' birding.
>
> Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
> Colesville, MD