I was the lone counter at Hart-Miller today which means some birds were probably missed with fewer eyes and ears on hand. The weather was partly cloudy and breezy in the morning. Midday it was overcast and there was a brief shower between 11 and 12. The early afternoon became partly cloudy again but very windy making observation and counting even more difficult with many ducks staying on shore or in the grass. Shorebird habitat is reduced while landscaping is underway in the north cell. Checking the tern flock closely each week finally payed off today.
Canada Goose 140, some young
Mute Swan 17, highest recent count
Wood Duck 45
Gadwall 2 males
American Wigeon 1 male
Black Duck 7
Mallard 81, some young, some adults were a breed that resembles wigeon
Blue-winged Teal 1 male
Green-winged Teal 1 male
Lesser Scaup 4, possibly more in the flock on the island
Ruddy Duck 26, including one breeding plumage male displaying
Pied-billed Grebe 40, many on nests
Double-crested Cormorant 18, mostly on the barges
Great Blue Heron 10
Great Egret 9
Snowy Egret 5
Glossy Ibis 1
Osprey 11
Bald Eagle 1 adult
Coot 1
Semipalmated Plover 18
Killdeer 7
Black-necked Stilt 1
Spotted Sandpiper 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper 465
White-rumped Sandpiper 3
Dunlin 6
Ring-billed Gull 77, mostly with the tern flock
Herring Gull 93, mostly on the barges
Great Black-back 193, mostly on the barges
Least Tern 17
GULL-BILLED TERN 1 adult, the first I have ever seen in Chesapeake Bay
Caspian Tern 260
Forster's Tern 1 immature
Mourning Dove 4
Willow Flycatcher 1
Kingbird 3
Blue Jay 1, probably a migrant
Purple Martin 5
Tree Swallow 18
Barn Swallow 11
Marsh Wren 7, heard only
Catbird 12
Mockingbird 1
Starling 6
Cedar Waxwing 7
Yellow Warbler 9
Yellowthroat 20
Song Sparrow 14
Swamp Sparrow 5, heard only
Red-winged Blackbird 60
Common Grackle 11
Cowbird 6
Orchard Oriole 5
Blue Grosbeak 3
House Finch 6
Goldfinch 10
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD
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