Hey everyone,

We finished up with our field work down at Blackwater NWR
last week [veg. plots in the marsh] and today we began our
work on Poplar Island [primarily monitoring Common & Least
Tern nests].  Although there is little time "to bird" while
we are there, I am able to spot a few things during our work.
The birds listed below are not a complete list nor an accurate
count of the birds seen.  Most numbers are estimates except in
a few cases.

Mute Swan 12
Am. Black Duck 1 pr.
Mallard  ~75 [many females with broods of 8-10 ducklings]
LESSER SCAUP  1 male [late]
Double-crested Cormorant  ~250 nesting
Great Blue Heron ~8
Snowy Egret ~20 nesting
Osprey ~6 [some nesting]
Black-bellied Plover 1 
Semipalmated Plover ~50
Killdeer ~10 [1 nesting right at the headquarters bldg!]
Willet ~12
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Ruddy Turnstone ~8
Sanderling ~6
Semipalmated Sandpiper ~2,500
Dunlin ~200
Short-billed Dowitcher ~150
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1 female
Herring Gull ~175
Great black-backed Gull ~100
Common Tern ~ 175
Least Tern ~20


Peter Osenton
Jessup, Md. [AA County]