Hi Folks!

On Friday, 4/24/09, I did another survey of the ORV Zone. The highlight was a EUROPEAN WHIMBREL [Numenius phaeopus phaeopus]. This differs from the American Whimbrel [N. phaeopus hudsonicus] by having a white rump and lower back (like a dowitcher) and white underwings. It is illustrated in the most recent National Geographic and in Sibley. ?The only previous record of this from Maryland was a bird first spotted by John Hubble, photographed by Bill Hubick, and seen also by Jim Brighton, Mike Burchett, Matt Hafner, Dave Powell, Dave Ziolkowski and me on May 21, 2006 at Tydings Marina in Havre de Grace, Harford County. The record has been accepted by MD/DCRC. I believe one of these is reported somewhere along the Atlanic Coast every few years. 

Here is the full list:

Location:???? Assateague I.? NS--ORV Zone
Observation date:???? 4/24/09
Notes:???? 57-62F; clear; no wind. Photos of European Whimbrel(N.phaeopus 
phaeopus):Distinctly white-barred tail; dowitcher-like white on rump and back; 
white underwings. Almost all Eastern Willets in pairs with no evident flocking. 
Two Western Willets, each associated with a different flock of Whimbrel. Most 
Lesser Black-backed Gulls in 3rd alternate; no full adults. Only 2 1st 
alternate.
Number of species:???? 21

Red-throated Loon???? 2
Common Loon???? 11
Northern Gannet???? 22
Double-crested Cormorant???? 28
Black-bellied Plover???? 1
American Oystercatcher???? 4
Willet (Eastern)???? 110
Willet (Western)???? 4
Whimbrel???? 88
Whimbrel (European)???? 1
Sanderling???? 165
Laughing Gull???? 18
Ring-billed Gull???? 5
Herring Gull (American)???? 129
Lesser Black-backed Gull???? 45
Great Black-backed Gull???? 64
Forster's Tern???? 2
Royal Tern???? 2
Fish Crow???? 2
Barn Swallow???? 1
Boat-tailed Grackle???? 1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)