Wednesday afternoon and evening we visited several sites in Dorchester County. The weather wasn't looking good at first with high winds and rain but when the storm moved past, the weather improved, and  the bi rds came out. 73 species for our afternoon and evening. 

Some of the highlights were: 

Summer Tanager 1 - entrance drive to the Blackwater NWR Visitors Center . 

Brown-headed Nuthatch 4 - feeding on a hummingbird feeder on Punch Island Rd. 

Royal Tern 2 - Taylor's Island. 



Brookview Bridge 

Least Tern 3 

Cliff Swallow 3 



BLACK RAIL crossed the road in front of us on Elliott Island Rd and briefly stopped in my headlights. Note: We did not use a tape for the rail but just slowly cruised up and down the road, stopping, walking, and listening . A life bird for Jeff! Nice to see your first one. 



Additional noteworthy  Elliott Island Road birds: 
Least Bittern     5 
Snowy Egret     12 
Clapper Rail     1 
Virginia Rail     6 
Common Moorhen     1 
Willet     1 
Chuck-will's-widow     3       

Acadian Flycatcher     2 
Marsh Wren     100 - probably many more 
Pine Warbler     10 
Saltmarsh Sparrow     6 
Seaside Sparrow     18 
Blue Grosbeak     3 
Red-winged Blackbird     2500 
Eastern Meadowlark     1 
Boat-tailed Grackle     1 



Joe Hanfman 

Columbia, MD