Hi Everyone,

I spent Sunday birding the Eastern Shore with Mikey Lutmerding and Ron Gutberlet. Jo Anna Lutmerding joined us for our first few stops, and we had FOY sightings of Jared Fisher, Dave Powell, Jim Green, and Wayne Bell. Several of us had long been planning a January Big Day for this date, but the harsh conditions finally convinced us otherwise. Instead, we birded our way across the Eastern Shore to spend the final hours at the Inlet. Best addition to the continuing abundance of great birds on the Shore were two cooperative DOVEKIEs at the Inlet in the late afternoon.

Just the highlights:

Chesapeake Farms

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW continues. Couldn't resist a repeat visit. 
(Found by Bruce Peterjohn on 12/19. Remember visitors must remain in their cars at all times.)
Snow Goose movement was impressive, and conservative estimation got us up to 6,700 birds passing over us.

Fairlee--Route 20 west of Bakers Lane

Two ROSS'S GEESE among 4,500 Snow Geese. 

Pickering Creek

SHRIKE continues. We also all felt confident that this bird is a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. Got some additional photos. Thanks, Zach!

Tanyard Marsh

Green-winged Teal--3
Common Merganser--2
Lesser Black-backed Gull--1 adult

Route 331 near LeCompte Road in Dorchester Co.

The Vienna blackbird flock passed by in the distance in all its glory, but not close enough to really work with it.
Snow Goose--2000

Naylor Mill Road

Wild Turkey--1. Foraging in the rain.

Salisbury Landfill

Lesser Black-backed Gull--2
There was also an interesting Herring Gull that we had just started discussing when the skies again opened up.

Ocean City Inlet

DOVEKIE--2. * Rare from shore. Spotted between the south jetty and the green buoy, then watched as they floated around and foraged in the channel for about 20 minutes. Will post photos.
RED KNOT--1. Continues.
Atlantic Brant--1
Common Eider--21
Harlequin Duck--2
Surf Scoter--32
White-winged Scoter--11
Black Scoter--15
Long-tailed Duck--8
Bufflehead--2
Red-breasted Merganser--3
Red-throated Loon--3
Common Loon--8
Horned Grebe--2
Great Blue Heron--2
American Oystercatcher--1
Ruddy Turnstone--14
Sanderling--14
Purple Sandpiper--21
Bonaparte's Gull--12
Ring-billed Gull--130
Herring Gull (American)--20
Great Black-backed Gull--2

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com