Hi everyone,

David Kidwell, Elaine Nakash and I birded Dorchester County 
today, Sunday, 2/14.  On our way down to Blackwater [via 
Maple Dam Road], we had several flocks of Horned Larks.  The 
largest flock we had numbered 36 birds. The smaller flocks were
7-10 birds.  All of the flocks we saw were along the snow/road edge feeding, so, we had super looks at them.  We carefully checked each flock for Longspurs or possible Pipits, but, had none.  The wind was really blowing today, so, there were sections where the snow was blowing into the road.  Also, the fields and marsh looked very barren with veg. batted down from all of the snow... almost like the Arctic tundra!

At Blackwater, our best bird was an adult Golden Eagle not too
far from the visitor center.  We also drove down to Hooper's 
Island and had some big flocks of Redheads on the Honga River. 
I'd estimate 500-750 birds that were almost ALL Redheads with just
a few Canvasbacks or Scaup mixed in.  Quite a sight!

Peter Osenton
Jessup [AA co.]