Hi David and all

We had a similar Blackwater area experience yesterday (Sunday 24th). Lots of Bald Eagles (including eagle sex in the marsh at the start of the driving loop). Water levels were very high, so there was a nice congregation of shorebirds in the marsh along the road at Bestpitch - 150 Dunlin, 33 Greater Yellowlegs and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs. We also had a Cackling Goose - on Maple Dam Rd. It wasn't a great day for photography, but I've posted a distant photo of the goose here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chlorophonia/4303245473/

There are a couple of other photos from the day in my Flickr photostream too, if anyone's interested.

Was great to be outside!

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen J. Davies
Silver Spring, MD


www.chlorophonia.com
http://chlorophonia.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chlorophonia/

 



________________________________
From: David C. Smith <>
To: 
Sent: Sun, January 24, 2010 3:04:55 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Ocean City and Blackwater - 1/23/2010

Hello all--

Yesterday was my first full day of birding in months, as the past couple of months have not been good to me healthwise. That said, I spent a funfilled day on the Eastern Shore. Most of my sightings have been reported already by others, but I'm going to recap highlights anyway! :)

West Ocean City Pond:
Nice variety of ducks here. Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, tons of Canvasbacks, Hooded Mergansers, Ruddy Ducks.

Ocean City Inlet:
Met Nancy Magnusson and saw the Holbrooks here. Nancy already posted, but highlights included a large flock of COMMON EIDERS, pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS, all three scoters, Long-Tailed Ducks, both loons, and an IPSWICH SPARROW (pointed out by Hans Holbrook).  Not reported earlier was Red-breasted Merganser (1), flyby flock of Brant, and Horned Grebe (2).

Blackwater NWR:
Met Leslie ? from Columbia. Best bird by far was the CACKLING GOOSE at the first impoundment pond of the Wildlife Loop. Stood out like a sore thumb with its much smaller size (closer to the nearby Mallards than the Canada Geese). No shortage of eagles, but no Goldens. Both YELLOWLEGS along Maple Dam Road. Evening on Cedar Creek Road produced no Short-eared Owls (to my dismay), both 4-5 BOAT-TAILED GRACKLES, and no less than 4 Great Horned Owls calling from various spots in the area.


Happy birding!

dcs

David C. Smith
Owings Mills, MD