...and some more recent.

Hi Folks,

Belated news:  I did the Chrisfield CBC this past Sunday (12/27) with
Kevin Graff, covering the Irish Grove Sanctuary, Rumbly Point Rd. and
some nearby properties.  Highlights were BLUE-WINGED TEAL and NELSON'S
SPARROW (Atlantic) on the sanctuary, CACKLING GOOSE, PEREGRINE FALCON,
and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at the end of Rumby Point Rd, and CATBIRD, FOX
SPARROW and BLUE-HEADED VIREO just outside the gate to the sanctuary.
We also had a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT on a nearby farm.

On Monday, 12/28, Kevin and I covered a private farm in the South
Point area for the Ocean City CBC.  We were joined late in the day by
Amanda Spears and Wayne Bell.  Highlights were CACKLING GOOSE, MERLIN,
FOX SPARROW and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW (very scarce in Worcester).

During our trip back home on Tuesday 12/29 Kevin and I decided to
chase some geese in Wicomico Co.  We saw many Snow Geese flying
westward and were hoping to find a big flock somewhere.  We eventually
found a little flock of one or two hundred on the ground, but with
none of the rarer geese imbedded in the group.  However, just off of
Woodyard Rd. in the eastern part of the county Kevin picked out a
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD from a mixed flock of starlings and blackbirds.  I
was surprisingly able to get the scope on the bird in the howling
wind; it was an adult male.  This was one I needed for the big year.

Yesterday I went out to Garrett Co. with Charlie Kucera hoping to find
some winter finches.  No luck; in fact there was very little activity
at all--mostly chickadees and corvids.  Red-breasted Nuthatch was the
best we could manage.

Wrapping up the year today, I made some visits around Anne Arundel
County, starting at Dairy Farm Rd. where a CACKLING GOOSE joined a
flock of about 85 Canadas.  Sandy Point State Park had some activity,
but nothing unusual other than a Canada/Domestic hybrid goose with the
body of a Canada and a white head.  I finished the day at Thomas Point
with birds pretty much as described by Dan Haas yesterday including a
handsome male REDHEAD and also a male WOOD DUCK.  The conditions were
so calm that I was able to count the Long-tailed Ducks and
Buffleheads, tallying more than 300 of each.  I was also able to pick
out a GREAT CORMORANT perched with many Double-cresteds on the
lighthouse.

So the year is over, and the Brewer's Blackbird brings my Maryland
year total to 338 species (ebird will show 339 because we had the
African Collared Dove in the yard).  This has certainly been the best
birding year in memory.  I've enjoyed birding every single day, but
I'm actually looking forward to doing some yard work again.

Best wishes to all in the coming year.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)