I spent Saturday in Dorchester County. Most of my time was on Elliott Island Rd in two stints – from 5-8:30 AM and then again from 3-11:30 PM.

Pre-dawn through dawn on the road was deafening. I estimated a gazillion marsh wrens and half a gazillion seaside sparrows. Saltmarsh sparrows were also present. Other morning highlights were one common moorhen and two flyover black-necked stilts.

Highlights from the afternoon and evening were a flyover least bittern, a flock of 33 snowy egrets lifting up en masse from the marsh, a displaying pied-billed grebe (I didn’t see what he was displaying to – he wasn’t facing the grebe stump and no other bird was visible. Maybe he was just practicing.), and two short-eared owls flying over the bridge at 9 PM.

Rails – the only ones I heard were four Virginias. They were calling at sunup and before the sun went down in the evening. The marsh was quiet after dark except for the occasional marsh wren.

Other cool things along the road. On the way in for the afternoon session, a drop-dead gorgeous black racer was crossing the road, and not very efficiently – a lot of movement, but hardly any forward progress. The thing was huge, and did I mention gorgeous? I estimated it between 3.5 and 4 feet. I stopped to “help” before someone ran over it, providing my foot as an immovable object to push off against. This worked until it got to the edge of the road – at that point he/she/it took umbrage. When I got back from my car with my hook, he was pretty much into the grass. During this process someone stopped to ask if I’d “gotten” him – the guy looked very disgusted when I said I was moving him so no one else would “get” him. Anyway, a beautiful snake and one of the real highlights of my day.

Another neat thing on the road… About 7 PM seaside dragonlets starting rising in force from the woodwork. It was almost as though every plant had one perched at the tip. The guy wires from the telephone poles had one every 3 inches. They were perched on the road, and red-winged blackbirds were walking up to them and occasionally catching them. I can only guess they were getting the last bit of warmth and sunlight before turning in for the night.

I spent the middle of my day wandering around Blackwater and Hoopers Island - I found nothing unexpected. Picked up a red-headed woodpecker at Bestpitch, which is always nice to see, especially for those of us who live where they’re uncommon.

Observation – 24 hours is a very long time without sleep, but Elliott Island Road is a very special place.

Nancy Magnusson
Ellicott City, MD