Bill deserves great praise for much of the organization for the Rarity Roundup with Mark Hoffman and Matt Hafner. Bill kept everyone in touch for the rarities that were discovered and Mark managed the tally which was enjoyed by everyone. Special commendation goes to Geraldine and Tom Feild who hiked all the way to the north end of Assateague on Saturday, then returned in the dark. Tom also gets a Purple Heart for his combat wound received during the loon attack. It was great to see so many people out for one big day. 

Bob Ringler 
Eldersburg MD 
 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Hubick" <> 
To:  
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:43:29 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Rarity Roundup Highlights 

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to take a couple minutes to share the highlights of this year's incredible Rarity Roundup weekend. Despite the challenges of the impressive Nor'easter-related flooding, the event had unprecedented participation. And of course that translated to great birds and great stories. Here's the rundown: 

BLACK-HEADED GULL - First-cycle found by Frode Jacobsen on 11/13. Seen by many and photographed extensively. Not relocated on 11/14 or 11/15. 

CALIFORNIA GULL - I spotted this bird on the afternoon of 11/13 and somehow managed to run out and get photos without ruining my camera in the downpour. I kept the camera under my rain jacket, would wipe the lens, burst-shoot, and then cover it back up. It is a second-cycle bird that appears identical in plumage to the bird we photographed at Salisbury Landfill on 10/24. I believe the photos are diagnostic and all elicited opinions so far are supportive. I'll post photos ASAP and submit to MD/DCRC. 

probable LEAST FLYCATCHER - An awesome find by J.B. Churchill and David Yeany on Evans Road just north of Cedar Lane (11/14). Many photos, as well as audio recordings of 'whit' calls. Multiple expert opinions strongly support Least Flycatcher. When Tom Feild and Geraldine King re-round it today, it was only two days earlier than Maryland's late date for Least Flycatcher (i.e., any eastern Empidonax). Presumably only the 11/17 Least record and Hank Kaestner's Baltimore Co. Hammond's (11/23/2005-12/14/2005) are later Empidonax records for Maryland. All Empidonax in Maryland at this time of year are mega, and so nearly the entire Rarity Roundup team got down there to see it. This is in part because I spazzed out a little and started throwing "probable Dusky" around (and even Gray for a minute or two!). I try so hard to be level-headed, but man, talk about the heat of the moment! In any case, I stand by it being the right move for everyone to chase it, as it 
 could have easily been a new state record. We all got to see a very rare temporal record, it was a county bird for many, and we learned a lot about a tough ID. Memorable to say the least. Great job, J.B. and David! 

WESTERN KINGBIRD - Found today (11/15) by Geraldine King and Tom Feild near pump-house #2 at Assateague SP. Chased by many, but there were only possible glimpses and possible call notes during extensive checking and re-checking. 

POMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGER - Amazing looks at an adult Pomarine Jaeger by Jim Brighton, Dan Small, and Maren Gimpel at the Assateague Causeway, early morning on 11/14. It appeared drawn in by a small tern flock. The Parasitic overtook it and continued on, allowing great studies. 

AMERICAN AVOCET - Spotted by Jim Moore as a flyby at the Assateague Causeway. Awesome high-speed telephone game relay via Gutberlet to Brighton to Lutmerding to me. Our group scoped it minutes later looking north from the east side of the causeway on the Assateague side. Great county bird and month bird for many. My previous record for Worcester was from the 2007 Rarity Roundup, found by Graff and Hafner on Skimmer Island (11/10/07). 

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - Flyby detected by Jim Brighton, Dan Small, and Maren Gimpel at Assateague State Park. 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - Assateague Causeway by Brighton, Small, Gimpel. 

GLAUCOUS GULL - First-cycle found by Rob and Mike Ostrowski at the OC Inlet today (11/15) 

EARED GREBE - Found by Bob Ringler, John Landers, and Paul Noell at Bayside 41st Street in Ocean City (11/14). Several of us relocated it today. 

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERs - Assateague Visitor Center on 11/14 and 11/15 (Green/Powell), Assateague SP (Rob and Mike Ostrowski). 

HARLEQUIN DUCK - Inlet on all three days 

COMMON EIDERS - Inlet on all three days. High of at least 17 birds. 

"CANADIAN"-type RED-TAILED HAWK - Dark-throated Red-tailed Hawk at Glen Riddle development (Hubick/Starr/Turner/Sarbanes) 

Also Ross's Goose, Cackling Goose, Osprey, Piping Plover (all five MD plover species), Western Willet (Lutmerding/Shenot, McGowan), Marbled Godwit (Lutmerding/Shenot), Red Knot, many White-rumped Sandpipers, 1000+ Dunlin on the north end of Assateague, Long-billed Dowitchers, displaying American Woodcock at multiple locations, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Royal Terns, Black Skimmers (2 juveniles at Skimmer Island, 1 at Inlet on 11/14), Northern Saw-whet Owls, Vesper Sparrow, Nelson's Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrows, Snow Buntings, Pine Siskin. 

Thanks to everyone who participated for making it another Rarity Roundup to remember. It's my favorite weekend of the year. 

Good birding! 

Bill 

Bill Hubick 
Pasadena, Maryland 
 
http://www.billhubick.com