I went kayaking after work today and explored a stretch of the river I had never been along before.  I kayaked south from Selby's Landing.  Instead of going into the marsh or up Mattaponi Creek, I went south along the main channel of the Patuxent.  Birds along this stretch of river included several Forster's Terns, 2 Caspian Terns, both Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Bald Eagles, and 1 juvenile Northern Harrier.  Only 1 cormorant was present.

After 35 minutes or so, I went up a small creek (Weir Creek) into the marsh off Merkle.  Here, I saw and flushed up lots of waterfowl, including Wood Ducks, Mallards, and a flock of 34 Blue-winged Teal.  Also present was another Bald Eagle, 2 more Northern Harriers, and 3 or 4 calling Sora.  With the waterfowl and calling Sora, this stretch of creek seemed especially wild and remote, at least by Prince George's County standards.  Although I hit the tide right (it was approaching low tide), I was disappointed to not find any shorebirds.  I only had one Greater Yellowlegs (heard only).  Other birds included a Barred Owl calling from the Prince George's side of the river and an Eastern Screech Owl calling from the Anne Arundel side.

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Maryland