Hi Everyone,

My wife Becky and I decided to spend most of today looking for winter field birds on the upper Eastern Shore. Especially early in the morning, the roadside birding was exceptional. We visited Sparks Road at first light and enjoyed an excellent photo shoot with at least five LAPLAND LONGSPURs among the abundant Horned Larks. 

We headed west into Queen Anne's Co., where we found another roadside flock of five LAPLAND LONGSPURs. They were right along Route 481 less than 100 yards north of Crouse Mill Road. We ran into Ross Geredien here and got to point out our little flock of longspurs. It was a small down payment for the great bird he'd soon alert us to at Great Oak Pond.

We continued through northern QA to drive farm fields in Kent Co., but soon Ross called us about a SANDHILL CRANE he'd found at Great Oak Pond. We headed there directly, making calls and sending texts along the way. We rendezvoused there with Ross, Walter and Nancy Ellison, Dan Small, Maren Gimpel, and Zach Baer. Awesome find, Ross. Thanks!

Several of us celebrated with lunch and a beer at Plaza Tapatia in Chestertown, then re-checked a nice lark field that Dan and Maren told us about in Kennedysville. Here we eventually teased out another LAPLAND LONGSPUR, first heard rattling, then spotted by Dan via scope.

We decided to end the day with another view of the NORTHERN SHRIKE at Chino Farms, which made a cooperative appearance off of Roundtop near Kibler Road. Great day!

Here are the abridged lists for all locations.

Sparks Road, Caroline Co.

Northern Harrier--1
Horned Lark--125
American Pipit--1
VESPER SPARROW--1. Feeding at the roadside with Savannah Sparrows. Photos.
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--132. Great concentration feeding at roadside.
Song Sparrow--3
White-throated Sparrow--52
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)--3 immatures
LAPLAND LONGSPUR--5. Easily my favorite photos I've taken of the species. An overdue county bird. My 200th species in Caroline Co. and cool milestone - all Eastern Shore counties to 200.

Route 481 north of Crouse Mill (QA Co.)

Horned Lark--165
LAPLAND LONGSPUR--5. Feeding in a tight flock of five birds, just after turning north on Route 481 from Crouse Mill Road. 

Glanding Road (QA Co.)

Cooper's Hawk--1
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)--1

Millington--Rte 313 Ponds

Snow Goose--1550. Two birds with yellow neck bands that were easily read: RJ79, MU52.
ROSS'S GOOSE--1
Canada Goose--1100
American Black Duck--1
Killdeer--1
Ring-billed Gull--2

Millington Area--Walnut Tree Road

Killdeer--1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)--1
Horned Lark--15
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--6
White-throated Sparrow--12
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)--4

Great Oak Pond

Snow Goose--240
Canada Goose--660
Bufflehead--4
Ruddy Duck--8
SANDHILL CRANE--1 ** Rare. Found by Ross Geredien. Striking, cleanly marked bird. 
Killdeer--1
Horned Lark--4
American Pipit--2

Kennedyville, Kent Co. 
(Field by the Pond on the south side of town)

Canada Goose--130
Ring-billed Gull--9
Herring Gull--2
Rock Pigeon--120
Horned Lark--282
American Pipit--1
Savannah Sparrow (Eastern)--2
LAPLAND LONGSPUR--1
Brown-headed Cowbird--150

Chino Farms--Near intersection of Roundtop and Kibler Roads.

Northern Harrier--2
NORTHERN SHRIKE--1 ** Rare, continuing. Private property. 
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)--12

PHOTOS: http://www.billhubick.com/photos/updates/20091224.php

Happy holiday birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com