Hey everyone-

     Although striking out on our main rarity chases, I had a great day today with Kevin Graff, and later Jim Stasz and Ed Boyd on MD's Eastern Shore today.      
     Kevin and I started at the Oxford Lab this morning, where we did not see the Snowy Owl.  We then went to Vessey's Orchard, where Kevin got a quick glimpse of the Lark Sparrow, but that was it in an hour stay.  We then headed to the Salisbury Landfill in hopes of getting the cool gulls that have been hanging around there.  However, I completely underestimated the difficulty of picking those species out, and all I came away with from the landfill was a nice stain on my coat from where a gull passing overhead had dropped its "business".  Anyway, the whole experience gave me a whole new appreciation of those who can pick the gulls out.   
     After the landfill, we drove down a back road off Route 50, and I was lucky enough to spot an American Woodcock by the side of the road.  We watched it "moonwalk" for a couple minutes, during which it allowed great photo opportunities.
   We headed to the Inlet next, where we met up with Jim and Ed for an hour or so.  We all viewed the Eared Grebe from 33rd St, though the bird was a long way off, a much different viewing experience from its close showing the week before.  Next, we went to Shantytown on a tip from Hans Holbrook about some Ipswich Sparrows that were hanging out by the seawall.  Sure enough, there were five birds foraging there when we arrived, and I was able to snap my first photos of this subspecies.
     All in all, it was a great day to be out, and I am very happy with the photo haul.

Pictures of the Woodcock, both Ipswich and Eastern Savannah Sparrows, and Brant are up at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicobirdphotos

Enjoy!

Nico Sarbanes
Baltimore