Hi MD Osprey:

I was just reviewing the latest issue of North American Birds to 
capture recent rarities reports for updating the MD/DC Records 
Committee database. In the Middle Atlantic regional report, I noticed 
that the colony of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers at the Piney Grove 
Preserve in Sussex County, Virginia fledged 15 birds last breeding 
season and is now up to a total of 43 birds (!)

GoogleEarth indicates that this colony is approximately the following 
distances, as the crow ... er, woodpecker ... flies, from these 
closest points in Maryland:

         Point Lookout, Saint Mary's County - 80 miles

         Smith Island, Somerset County - 86 miles

         Bishops Head (south of Crocheron), Dorchester County - 100 miles

The last accepted Maryland record of Red-cockaded Woodpecker, a 
former state breeder, was from 5/11/1974 from Patuxent Research 
Refuge in Laurel; however, in the late 1970 and the 1980s, from 
southern Maryland, there were several undocumented and Not Accepted 
reports (generally due to documentation issues).

Maybe again some day for Maryland ... ??? Detailed field 
documentation and/or good photos will be important!

Phil

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Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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