Hi Folks,

Ed Carlson and I were both off from work today, so met for an early
morning survey of the Swan Creek/Cox Creek property in northern  Anne
Arundel Co., near the Key Bridge.  It was an excellent morning of
birding, highlighted by a winter-plumaged SNOW BUNTING, found at the
far end of the north dredge cell well below the rim in a small clump
of grass near the water.  The bird was so cooperative that I was able
to get many photos and some video from 15 feet away.  Unfortunately,
this is a non-public area, so I did not send out an alert.  This was a
life bird for Ed, and a first for this property, though its presence
shouldn't be a surprise since these birds are regular winter visitors
to Hart-Miller and Poplar Island.

I added two other birds to my property list as well:  RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH (2) along the power lines and RUSTY BLACKBIRD, a female in a
tree in the western wetland, seen from the power lines.  The Snow
Bunting became property bird #200 in ebird, though technically we're
at 201 if we count Traill's Flycatcher.

Other interesting finds:  the property's first November OSPREY and E.
PHOEBE.  Also, 62 FORSTER'S TERNs on the river was a property high
count, and unusual for this time of year.

Elaine also had an E. PHOEBE in the yard today, along with an adult BALD EAGLE.

The complete list for Swan Creek is below.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale
 [or]



Location:     Swan Creek Wetland--Cox Creek DMCF
Observation date:     11/2/10
Notes:     An adult male winter-plumaged SNOW BUNTING in the north
cell was the star of the day.  Also nice were two RB Nuthatches along
powerline and a single female Rusty Blackbird in a tree in the ww.
Osprey and Phoebe were both first-time November birds for Swan Creek,
and the number of Forster's Tern on the pilings to the north of the
property was very unusual.  Weather was cold and clear, temp 35 to 50
degrees; wind out of north at 8-10 mph, and clear.  One of our best
surveys ever!
Number of species:     57

Canada Goose     89
Mute Swan     2
American Black Duck     6
Mallard     19
Green-winged Teal     4
Ruddy Duck     11
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Double-crested Cormorant     75
Great Blue Heron     5
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture     2
Osprey     1
Bald Eagle     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
American Kestrel     2
Killdeer     6
Laughing Gull     6
Ring-billed Gull     124
Herring Gull (American)     59
Great Black-backed Gull     7
Forster's Tern     62
Mourning Dove     71
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     6
Downy Woodpecker     3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     3
Eastern Phoebe     1
Blue Jay     3
American Crow     4
Fish Crow     2
Carolina Chickadee     3
Tufted Titmouse     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     2
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Brown Creeper     1
Carolina Wren     1
Golden-crowned Kinglet     2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     52
Northern Mockingbird     3
European Starling     4
Palm Warbler (Yellow)     1
Field Sparrow     1
Song Sparrow     75
Swamp Sparrow     3
White-throated Sparrow     35
White-crowned Sparrow     1     (imm)
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)     40
Snow Bunting     1     spotted by Ed in small grass clump surrounded
by dirt; we had an extended view at 15 feet.  An adult winter male.
Northern Cardinal     4
Red-winged Blackbird     55
Rusty Blackbird     1
Common Grackle     850
House Finch     4
American Goldfinch     26

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)