I birded several spots on the eastern shore today with my brother.  Highlights included the Roseate Spoonbill (Delaware only), Gull-billed Tern, Sandwich Tern, Piping Plover, and a brownish immature cormorant species.

Fenwick Island (Delaware):  Our first stop was along Route 54 where we looked for the Roseate Spoonbill.  We didn't see this bird in the morning (approximately 9:15 - 10:45), but we went back in the early evening and got great looks at the bird in the marsh and in flight from approximately 6:45 - 7:10 PM.  Initially we saw the bird behind the Catch 54 restaurant, but then it flew over the marsh in a circular pattern before landing on the opposite side of the marsh (near the blue condos).  The bird stayed well north of Route 54 and the Maryland line.

Eagle's Nest:  At Eagle's Nest we had 14 Piping Plover on the mudflats across the bay.  Also present was one Gull-billed Tern and one Sandwich Tern with some Royal Terns.  These birds were all very distant, although we did have a Least Tern fly directly overhead.

Assateague NS:  very slow.  Highlights included several tern species, 1 Tricolored Heron, 1 flyby Dunlin, and groups of Brown Pelicans.  

Skimmer Island:  Skimmer Island had lots of birds, including several Black Skimmers, many Royal Terns, 1 Gull-billed Tern, 1 Sandwich Tern (we got great views of these birds), lots of Short-billed Dowitchers, several Oystercatchers, 1 non-breeding Red-breasted Merganser, Willets, and a lot of the usual gulls.  Several Brown Pelicans were also present.  Common, Forster's, and Least Terns were also present.  There was also a large group of cormorants, including the brownish immature bird discussed below.

Immature cormorant sp:  Perhaps of most interest was an immature cormorant with the large group of Double-crested Cormorants near the southern tip of Skimmer Island.  The cormorant contrasted with the other cormorants (both immatures and adults) due to its even, brown color beneath.  We viewed the bird from a variety of angles.  Although it was distant (we viewed it from the US 50 bridge), the even brown underparts were distinctive.  The brown extended from the throat, through the breast, and to (and including) the belly.  I got several distant photos of the bird which show the coloration of the underparts.  We viewed the bird for about 10 minutes in close proximity to other cormorants.  The bird appeared slightly smaller than surrounding cormorants, although this was difficult to judge.  I had difficulty judging the length of the tail as well, as the bird was sitting on its hindparts with its tail spread out behind it.  Although several of the photos show the tail in its entirety, I had trouble getting a true feel for its actual length in relation to the rest of the body. Plumage wise, it seemed right for an immature NECO.  However, at this point I hesitate to call it as it was very difficult for me to get a sense of the bird's size and proportions due to the distance.   I may send a few of my photos around for people to comment on, as it was a very interesting cormorant and other opinions will undoubtedly be helpful.  Several of the photos do seem to indicate the smaller size of the bird in relation to the surrounding Double-crested Cormorants, but this was very difficult for me to judge in the field.  

When several cyclists passed us, we had to move our scopes momentarily and were then unable to relocate the bird.  It had either flown or had turned and settled so we could not see it.  However, it is probably worth keeping an eye out for this bird if anyone gets to view Skimmer Island in the coming days.  

Fred Shaffer

Patuxent MOS