I woke up late today but decided I just had to get out of the house. I
haven't done any birding in MD (except for the Irvine NC N. Shrike)
since I got back from a week in South Texas last month (21 lifers on
that trip!)

I headed out to my fave "quick" trip destination: Blackwater. On the
way I decided to check the Choptank in Cambridge to see what ducks
have arrived. At Oakley St I was pleased to find 13 Surf Scoters work
their way very close to shore for some decent pics. Also present were
2 Long-Tailed Ducks, 1 Common Loon, 3 A Wigeon, and mallards.

At Blackwater I found...people! More than I've ever seen here. I
breezed through the wildlife drive quickly bc I wanted to get down to
the Tubman Trail for a nice, quiet stroll in the woods. Highlights at
Blackwater were hundreds of Tundra Swans and the omnipresent hordes of
Bald Eagle (13 today). Still have yet to see my first Snow Goose in MD
this fall. I had my first in DE in September!

At the Tubman Trail I was disappointed to find that the numbers of
mosquitoes were still far too great to be out of the car. I only
walked about 50 yards before I had to run back to my car and I still
itch all over. Did see a nice Red-Shouldered Hawk perched for a while
on Hip Roof Rd.

When I left Tubman, I decided to drive down to Hoopers Island. This is
one of my fave spots in MD bc of its isolation, and how close to
diving ducks I've been able to get in the past. Today I found 3 Common
Loon (one at point blank range next to the bridge) and about 100
Bufflehead. No Goldeneyes or Aythyas as there often are here.

A really nice day overall!

-Jake Hall
College Park, MD

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