Hi Everyone,

Carol and I made a quick trip to Deal Island WMA in Somerset County this evening (5 Aug 2009).  We finally connected with the BLACK-NECKED STILTS (3) on Green Dumpster Rd.  I've checked for these birds periodically this year thanks to multiple reports from Deal Island, beginning with one from Hans Holbrook back in April or May.  Mike Walsh saw them later in the summer, and finally the recent report from Joe and Jane Hanfman did the trick!  Thanks everyone for the reports.

Also, if we hadn't stopped to digiscope the stilts, we would have missed a COMMON MOORHEN that briefly emerged from the marsh vegetation before disappearing again.  Since I'd just set up the scope and camera, I snapped a couple digiscopes of the moorhen too.

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD