Hi Everyone,

Against our better judgement (cold and windy!!), Zach Baer and I birded the Ocean City area this morning (3 Jan 2010).  We started at the Ocean City Inlet at about 7:15.  Highlights there included:

Redhead--1 drake with Surf Scoters near the tip of the south jetty; we weren't expecting this species here

Common Eider--3

Eared Grebe--1 between the jetties near the ocean side of the inlet; Dan Small, Doug Gill et al. had an Eared Grebe here during the OC CBC on 28 Dec 2009.

Great Cormorant--1 between the jetties during part of our visit

Bonaparte's Gull--a nice flock of about 70 mixed with Ring-billed Gulls and feeding near the tip of the south jetty; our prolonged and optimistic scanning could produce neither a Little nor a Black-headed Gull

Forster's Tern--5

West OC Pond and the Bayside Development Pond were almost completely ice-covered with waterfowl numbers reduced accordingly.  Scoping at the West OC Pond did reveal most of the expected duck species tucked in among the Canada Geese and Tundra Swans.  A female Canvasback looked a little pitiful walking across the ice.

A pair of WOOD DUCKS was among the American Wigeon and other ducks at the Eagles Nest Golf Course pond.

A side road south of Berlin produced 3 PINE WARBLERS.

Not a bad morning, even with the wind...

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD