Hi everyone,

Yesterday was my third week of field work out on Poplar Island.
Although we are working and there is not much time for "birding",
I do have a few items I'd like to share.

First, the numbers of nests for Common and Least Terns looks great
for this year!  One location yielded exactly 100 common tern nests, 
and 175 least tern nests.  So, for all of Poplar, there are 7 colonies 
of Commons (509 nests), and 1 of Least. (175 Nests). Compare this 
with 2009:  Commons only had 244 and Leasts 63... previous peak for 
leasts was 112 nests in 2008.  However, I don't have the all time high 
for Commons at hand right now.  So more than double this year from last 
year for Commons, and about triple for Leasts!! 

Also, a few sightings during work....

TRICOLORED HERON 2  - NEW for my Poplar list!  Pair MIGHT be nesting?
Surf Scoter      4 females off the southwest tip of the island.
Am. Oystercatcher 1  - 1 nest abandoned, but, there is another pair and they now have 3 chicks. 
Peep sp.   About 30 birds... no time to check, probably Least & Semi.
Horned Lark      1  - First summer sighting for me.


Peter Osenton
Jessup, Md. [AA county]