Hi Everybody: 

Thanks to Bob Ringler for posting the  immature White Ibis on MDOsprey this morning. I tried to get the word out to as many people as possible via cell phone as well. I talked to Joe Hanffman and Dave Weesner several times throughout the day. After the bird had been relocated closer to the roundabout on Rt. 66 (south of the original location), Dave shared the following info which makes for a much safer vantage point as well as a better chance of viewing the White Ibis.

Exit off of Rt. 70 and take Rt. 66 north for 1.3 miles. At the roundabout go 3/4 of the way around it and turn onto Mt. Aetna Rd (going west towards Hagerstown). Take your very first driveway to the right and as you drive up the driveway, you will see some worn white fencing on your right. Drive up to the building at the end of the drive. The name on the building is JAY CRUM EDUCATION CENTER. Park on the left and proceed to the right side entrance of the building. Let the people inside know your intentions. They were very polite and interested and OK with him searching for the bird. The best viewing angle is to line yourself up with the creek area that is (south) to the right of the pond. Look very carefully among the vegetation and dead sticks as the brown color of the ibis blends in very nicely with its surroundings. Stay part of the way up the bank verses going down to the fences edge for better veiwing also.

Please make sure you have permission first before entering so that this coutesy is not ruined for others. Also, if you check out the location that Bob Ringler posted where I first saw the White Ibis PLEASE park on the left as soon as you turn onto the cement road. Under no circumstances should you drive the road. This area was visited by many this past spring and will probably be checked from time to time in the future. The residents are very cooperative with birders visiting as long as these agreements are adhered to.

I ran into Helen Patton midmorning and we spent the rest of the day unsuccessfully looking for shorebirds in Washington County. We checked numerous locations north of Hagerstown, the airport and wetlands behind the airport, then drove west on Broadfording Road and then drove up to Blairs Valley Lake and scanned the shorlines there. The only shorebirds seen were Killdeer, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers. We spent a half hour in Williamsport along the Potomac River. Our best bird here was a flyover Broadwinged Hawk.  We finished checking out the water treatment ponds in Boonesboro: Purple Martins, more Killdeer and 2 more Spotted Sandpipers.

We parted ways. On the way home I spent a half hour at Hughes Hollow in Montgomery County from 8 to 8:30 PM. I saw 3 Great Egrets, 2 Great Blue Herons, 5 Green Herons, 4 Wood Ducks and when I scanned the dead trees from the west of the second impoundment there were 3 Bald Eagles perched (2 Adults and 1 immature).

Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD

work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!