My wife, Carolyn,  and I visited several Dorchester County sites today and
were rewarded with sightings of some nice birds.

 

First - at the Cambridge Marina, from the first parking lot, we found
several Greater Scaup, one Coot, one Ruddy Duck and a nice range of gulls
(Herring, Ring-billed and Greater Black-backed).  Within the gull group
there was one Lesser Black-backed Gull.

 

Next - onward to Oakley Street for the close-up viewing of the ducks -
around 200 total, with most being Canvasbacks.  Others:  Black (1), American
Wigeon (6), Lesser Scaup (6), Mallards (~20).

 

Then to Great Marsh Park - the access ramp sheltered area had one female
Goldeneye and one female Lesser Scaup - yielding great close-up views.

 

We proceeded toward Blackwater, and along Egypt Road found about a hundred
Tundra Swan.  Farther down, near where a small stream crosses Egypt Road
there was an amazingly cooperative American Woodcock that just stood on the
shoulder beside the road as we stopped and watched.  Eventually this bird
moved along with its bouncing gait, probing away in the moist soil for its
food.

 

At the usual place beside the Blackwater River, visible from sharp bend of
Key Wallace Drive, the  American White Pelican was present.  Continuing down
Maple Dam Road we found 14 Bald Eagles at one spot, and had a fly-over of
two Common Mergansers.  We paused at the Shorter's Wharf parking lot, and
were there long enough to be treated to a fly-over by the previously
reported dark phase Rough-legged Hawk that has been seen recently in that
area.

 

A trip down to the end of Cedar Creek Road provided nice views of several
Northern Harriers.  (Several more had already been seen along Maple Dam
Road.)  As we returned toward Shorter's Wharf, we spotted a Great Egret in
the fragmites beside a small pond about two miles south of Shorter's Wharf
on the road that is marked as Robbins Road but shown on maps as Maple Dam
Road.

 

Quite a pleasing day, as long as one stayed pretty close to the warm car.

 

Les Roslund

Talbot County

Easton, MD

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