Hi Everyone,

Despite the harsh weather today, Worcester Co. did not disappoint! Mike Burchett already covered the early morning, where many of us enjoyed excellent studies of the continuing ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and NORTHERN SHRIKE. I rode out with Mikey Lutmerding, Matt Hafner, and Jim Brighton, and we spent the full day with Jim Stasz and Ed Boyd. We also birded at times with Mike and Betsy (a.m.), Ron and Carol Gutberlet, their friend Peter, and Scott Housten. 

After enjoying the flycatcher and shrike, six of us hiked a mile or so through the wind-swept state park, finding little besides gannets, loons, scoters, and a couple Red-breasted Nuthatches. Several flyby flocks of SNOW GEESE suggested they might be starting to arrive in earnest. Mikey also found an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL in the national seashore, a rare bird on the island. Unfortunately the bird didn't cooperate for others.

Leaving Assateague, we were pleased to find the two CATTLE EGRETs continuing across from the visitor center, a new December bird for all of us (though some saw them yesterday).

Rum Pointe held no swallows or raptors, but the nice diversity of ducks continues.

Things quickly got very exciting again when at Bayside Development Pond we found not one but TWO female EURASIAN WIGEON, each picked out by Mikey Lutmerding. The first was fairly classic with a warm suffusion of color in the head, but the second was a very subtle individual with little warmth, but uniform coloration between head and body plumage. Close-up photos of both birds show diagnostic lack of black at the base of the bill. After enjoying these at length (i.e., repeatedly losing and re-finding them), we relocated the two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERs near the boardwalk trail. Quite a haul! Somehow it was already noon, and between the productive morning and the bitterly cold wind, the group unanimously agreed to indulge in a rare sit-down lunch and refreshments at Plaza Tapatia. 

We spent the remainder of the afternoon at the Ocean City Inlet, where the highlights continued with a cooperative adult LITTLE GULL, an unexpected first-cycle THAYER'S GULL, and two HARLEQUIN DUCKs. The LITTLE GULL was a stunning sight as it fed outside the inlet with about 95 Bonaparte's Gulls. The THAYER's GULL was roosting on the high area of the south jetty. I'll post photos of all the rare species sometime over the next couple days and include descriptions/photos for all in eBird.

What a day! Quite a welcome home for Matt!

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com