Hi Everyone,

I saw an AMERICAN COOT at Schumaker Pond this afternoon (18 Dec 2009).  It stayed mainly along the opposite shore from the parking areas on S Schumaker Dr and was sometimes partly hidden by overhanging branches.  This is the first coot I've seen this year in Wicomico.

For those who haven't been here before: Schumaker Pond is next to the Ward Museum in Salisbury.  To reach the pond from Bus Rt 50, go south on Beaglin Park Dr on the east side of Salisbury.  After a couple miles go left on S Schumaker Dr.  Continue past the museum entrance on your left and you will soon come to two parking areas on the left.  From the parking areas, you can walk down to scope the pond.  Watch out for wayward frisbees!

After the pond, a visit to the Ward Museum is highly recommended.  Right now:  "Witness... an extensive collection of The Decoys of Long Island featuring such decoys as the William Bowman long-billed curlew showcased through January 24.  Mark your calendar to attend the exhibit opening December 4 for The Photography of Bill Wallen, award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer."  The latter exhibit should be up through 7 February.  Plenty of additional informaton on the website: www.wardmuseum.org.

My complete list from this afternoon follows.

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD
 



Location:     Schumaker Pond
Observation date:     12/18/09, noon-12:20 pm
Number of species:     14

Canada Goose     237
Wood Duck     2
Mallard     26
Ring-necked Duck     103
Hooded Merganser     2
Pied-billed Grebe     5
Double-crested Cormorant     1
Great Blue Heron     2
American Coot     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     1
Blue Jay     1
American Crow     2
Golden-crowned Kinglet     2
Red-winged Blackbird     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)