Hi Everyone,

I think I'm guilty of tossing out the Rufous label too early on the P.G. bird. I'm all for being conservative and awaiting banding and/or truly close-up spread tail shots. This is a notoriously difficult ID and some of these birds get debated even after they've been studied in-hand. I'm good with Selasphorus for now! 

Awesome bird, and I look forward to more documentation. I can also post a few more tail shots later. Dan Haas has more as well.

Thanks!

b


Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com


--- On Mon, 11/22/10, Bill Hubick <> wrote:

> From: Bill Hubick <>
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Sunday Highlights--Hummingbird Photos, Charles Cattle Egrets, North Beach Pelicans
> To: 
> Date: Monday, November 22, 2010, 6:40 AM
> Hi Everyone,
> 
> Below are some highlights from a great Sunday of late fall
> birding with John Hubbell and Mike Ostrowski. 
> 
> First and foremost - Many thanks to Rick Borchelt for the
> invitation to view his Selasphorus hummingbird. I'd
> appreciate confirmation from those fully qualified to rule
> out Allen's, but it looks like a good Rufous to me. (Also
> present: Rick Borchelt, Mikey Lutmerding, Jim Moore, Jared
> Fisher, Dan Haas had just left)
> 
> http://www.billhubick.com/images2/rufous_hummingbird_college_park_md_20101121_01.jpg
> http://www.billhubick.com/images2/rufous_hummingbird_college_park_md_20101121_02.jpg
> 
> Smoky Road, Calvert Co.
> 
> Good numbers of expected species, headlined by a total of
> 33 HERMIT THRUSHes, easily becoming my new high count
> (previously 18 at a single site). At one point we had seven
> in a single tree. The berry crop here is excellent right
> now, but the fields are tidy with winter wheat and poor for
> sparrows except along hedgerows. Five Red-breasted
> Nuthatches. A Cooper's Hawk made an attack run on a flying
> flock of Cedar Waxwings.
> 
> Cattle Egrets in Charles
> 
> We visited Indian Creek WMA for sparrows/rarities, and
> enjoyed the continuing four CATTLE EGRETs originally found
> by the Ostrowski brothers.
> 
> North Beach Pelicans
> 
> Waiting to turn left at the light on Route 260, John picked
> out six BROWN PELICANs headed north. Good birds already, we
> quickly realized these would probably continue north past
> the Anne Arundel line. Minutes later we were at North Beach
> Marsh and had moments to spare before they crossed into Anne
> Arundel. My third record, and doubling my previous high
> count of three from 11/26 of last year. Surf and Black
> Scoters present.
> 
> Chesapeake Beach Marina
> 
> Laughing Gull--191
> Ring-billed Gull--5
> Herring Gulls--139
> Great Black-backed Gull--84
> 
> Good duck numbers at Herrington, but we didn't have enough
> time to get careful counts of scaup and Bufflehead. All
> three scoters present, with about 25 Black Scoters, 4 Surf
> Scoters, and a single White-winged Scoter.
> 
> Good birding!
> 
> Bill
> 
> Bill Hubick
> Pasadena, Maryland
> 
> http://www.billhubick.com
>