I went to a variety of locations on the Eastern Shore today.  Highlights included 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Salisbury Landfill), 3 Black Skimmers (Skimmer Island), 5 or 6 Brown-headed Nuthatches and a Red-headed Woodpecker (Bestpitch Ferry Road), and a White Pelican and Least Bittern (Blackwater NWR).

Salisbury Landfill - probably over 1,500 noisy Laughing Gulls present.  There were also many extremely worn 1st year Herring Gulls and a few 1st year Great Black-backed Gulls.  The highlight here were 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  One was a worn 1st summer gull and the other was a 3rd summer gull.

Skimmer Island - I viewed the island from near Hooper's Restaurant and along the US 50 bridge.  Highlights were 3 or 4 Black Skimmers, a dozen or so Red Knots, lots of Short-billed Dowitchers, Least Terns, Common Terns, Forsters Terns, and Royal Terns, Willets, an adult Little Blue Heron, 1st year Black-crowned Night Heron, several Oystercatchers, 1 Dunlin, and 1 Black-bellied Plovers.  No unusual gulls were present.  There was also one Brown Pelican and a non-breeding Red-breasted Merganser.

Bestpitch Ferry Road - I heard and then saw 5 or 6 Brown-headed Nuthatches as they foraged near the road.  As I tried to get a better look at these birds, an adult Red-headed Woodpecker flew in close, giving me good, but brief, views.  Also present was a Pine Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue Jay, Eastern Towhee, Chat, and a Flicker.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - the best stop was along Key Wallace Drive near the open water by the maintenance yard.  It was here that I found the White Pelican.  As I watched this bird, a Least Bittern called from the marsh (dusk was approaching).  Also present was a Bald Eagle, Eastern Kingbird, and Great Blue Heron.  This was the same location that I had the White Pelican 3 weeks ago.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS