Hey everyone,

I finally managed to get out of the house this weekend and meet up with Wayne Bell and George Radcliffe to make the trip south for some counting in Dorchester County and Ocean City.  Since I don't have the time to write up the full list tonight, I am only reporting the highlights.  I was surprised at how passable some of the back roads were,that made for some high counts in species and individuals.

Saturday, Feb. 13, Dorchester Co. --

Peregrine Falcon - perched under Cambridge bridge
Redhead - Oakley St. male in with Cavasbacks
Red-shouldered Hawk - Lloyd's/Spocott, adult
Fox Sparrow - Lloyd's/Spocott and Elliot's Island Rd, 11 total, all feeding on roadsides, amazed at the numbers and frequency throughout the weekend
American Pipit - Llyod's/Spocott, flew in from over river and landed on rocky shore
Gray Catbird - Elliot's Island Rd., haven't been as hard to find this winter
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Elliot's Island Rd. adult hunked down in marsh
Pie-billed Grebe - Elliot's Island Rd.
Virginia Rail - Elliot's Island Rd.  was hoping the snow would push the rails to the road, and thats how we saw this guy, ran right out in front of us!
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW - Elliot's Island United Methodist Church parking lot, 2 feeding among the white-throats and juncos.  Definately was a target for the trip, really tame too, let us view them from car about 2 feet away. Big SUV zoomed past us and nearly ran them over!
Short-eared Owl - Elliott's Island Rd. landing, 2 flying way out over marsh

Sunday, Feb. 14, Ocean City --

Northern Gannet - 76th st, 2 flying north, suprised how scarse they have been down there
Bonaparte's Gull - Inlet, ~25 feeding behind jetty
Common Eider - Inlet, ~60, nice showing
Harlequin Duck - Inlet, pair in with Eiders
Red-shouldered Hawk - West Ocean City Pond, juv
"Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - Shantytown
LAPLAND LONGSPUR - Shantytown, 1 adult feeding with 10 Horned Larks. Now here is the scary thing though. I got a message from K. Graff Saturday informing me of a Longspur at South Point, but  for some reason I remembered Shantytown instead of South Point. So on Sunday I told Wayne that we needed to stop by Shantytown to see if the Longspur was there (which of course it shouldn't have been cause it was at South Point), still unaware of my mistake .  We got there and found a Longspur quickly and were happy we "relocated" the Longspur.  Not until 9:30 tonight did I read Kevin's post of lower shore highlights did noticed that the only Longspur he had found was at South Point.  Perplexed, I reread my txt message from Saturday and relized he had never said Shantytown, he did say South Point.  But somehow we went to Shantytown and found a Longspur, and I'm still astonished as I'm writing this.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - Castaways, in "breeding" plumage.  I don't know the molt cycle of Semi Plovers but I would have guessed this was the same bird who has overwintered in OC, however,  the bird seen before was in its "nonbreeding" plumage.
Fox Sparrow - Eagle's Golfcourse, 3 popped out of the bamboo. Also 1 near Wye Mills.
Red-shouldered Hawk - driving through Salisbury

Nice birding and was definately worth it getting out of the house.  Was relieved to see a fair number of Bluebirds, weather like this is certainly not good for them. Spring ought to to tell us, lets hope for the best.  Anyway, hope to post a complete report soon.

Amanda Spears
Chestertown