Six people made the Carroll Co. Bird Club field trip to St. Mary's Co. today and were treated to some memorable birds. Joining me were Dave & Maureen Harvey, Chuck Stirrat, Keith Costley, and Debbie Terry. 

   At Point Lookout State Park the highlights began with the female COMMON EIDER continuing on the bay side. It was seen fairly close to the shore with the best vantage from the south end of the causeway. While watching the eider and other waterfowl here Keith spotted a bird trailing a highflying flock of Brown Pelicans. The trailer turned out to be an equally highflying SANDHILL CRANE. Coming in from the NE, when it reached the point it turned and headed north and disappeared from view as it headed up the peninsula, still flying very high. I was able to get the scope on it for part of its about five-minute journey above us. Flocks of Brown Pelicans were moving down the bay and I believe we saw at least 36 individuals. We also saw three Gannets. Other treats in the park were the vocal flock of about a hundred Black Scoters, lots of Goldeneyes and Long-tailed Ducks, and hundreds of Buffleheads on the water, plus Fox Sparrow, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Brown-headed Nuthatches in the woods. While driving out of the park Debbie spotted a Barred Owl perched close to the road which necessitated a couple of quick U-turns. 

   At Cornfield Harbor a SHORT-EARED OWL was cruising over the marshes for about 15 minutes at 2PM with the sun still bright. 

   At Scotland a stop on Long Neck Road produced several immature White-crowned Sparrows, a flock of Pipits, a LEAST SANDPIPER in the flooded field with the Killdeer and Snipe, lots of Meadowlarks, and a perched adult Peregrine. 

   We finished at the Beauvue Ponds where the waterfowl included lots of Gadwall and Ring-necked Ducks with about 10 Redheads and smaller numers of others. 

   It was a fun full day and there are probably other highlights I have overlooked. 

Bob Ringler 
Eldersburg MD