I just got a phone call from a friend of mine.? He was driving this morning on 214/ Mayo Road.? At the intersection of 214 and Turkey Point Road he saw a flock of birds unlike anything he has ever seen.? They were large birds flying high overhead.? The biggest impression is that they were large black birds with very white or heads or bills.?It appeared their feet were sticking out behind them.? 

The first glance was "crowlike", but immediately he knew they were not crows and pulled over to watch. He got a good, but brief view directly overhead.? The birds flew together in an organized flock, like a loose line.? The profile was NOT gooselike, although the length of the neck was long, about the length of a goose.? He says the?body shape?was reminiscient of a very large cormorant, a long neck, moderate size body and big wings,but does not believe these were cormorants.? He does not believe they are blue Snow Geese; he is familiar with these. 

The birds were heading North East, perpindicular to Mayo Road at 9:09 this morning. 

Please keep your eyes to the sky and let us know if you see these birds and can offer and ID.? Personally, I'm suspicious of Sandhill Cranes, given that they have been seen around here by others recently and that these birds are very unlike anything else my friend has ever seen.? Ideas?

Joanne
403-203-6955
West River MD