On Friday evening, my wife Colleen and I headed to Ocean City for a day of
birding on Saturday. On our way down, we stopped at Pickering Creek Audubon
Center to look for the previously reported Loggerhead Shrike. However, after
about 30 min of searching the area, we saw no such shrike. On Saturday
morning, I began at Ocean City Inlet at dawn. Soon I was joined by Marcia
and Bob Balestri. While scanning through the large raft of scoters (all 3
species) and Common Eiders, we found a GREAT CORMORANT perched on the south
jetty. Later in the morning, Colleen and I had 2 GREAT CORMORANT in the same
spot. The ultimate highlight of the day came next when we found a DOVEKIE
between us and the south jetty inside the inlet. Although it kept going
underwater and resurfacing, we had great looks at relatively close range,
but I still could not manage to get a photo. Other birds from our morning
stint at the Inlet included: 1 male HARLEQUIN DUCK, 3 BONAPARTE'S GULL, 20
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, 6 LONG-TAILED DUCK, among others.

West OC Pond had a good assortment of waterfowl, but there were no surprises
with many of the same species reported recently. A drive-by search of
Bayside campground at Assateague National Seashore did not turn up the
previously seen Northern Shrike.

In the afternoon, we relocated the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW found by Michael
O'Brien on the Ocean City CBC. The bird was among a flock of 15 or so Song
and White-throated Sparrows in the hedgerow at the northeast corner of Mason
Rd and Rt. 113, viewable from the turnaround off Mason Rd.

We ended the day back at Ocean City Inlet, in the hopes of turning up more
goodies. Looking for the "missing" Red Knot, we searched among the numerous
PURPLE SANDPIPERS and RUDDY TURNSTONES on the far jetties and nearby rocks.
Persistence paid off when I finally found the (continuing) RED KNOT very
close along the rocks at the base of the concrete wall across from the inlet
parking lot. It afforded fantastic photographing opportunities at sunset.
What a great end to a fine day of birding!

Good birding!

David

--
David Yeany II
Owings Mills
814-221-4361