Greetings to all; that's a great sighting Rob!  On Wednesday (1-19) the short burst of funky warm air thawed quite a lot of frozen tidal marsh around Jug Bay, causing early morning fog that was not heavy, but enough to blur distant views from my scope.  I could see hundreds of gulls present on the ice, but the number may have been much higher since I had limited view through the fog.  While scanning viewable birds for white-wings or black-backs, the majority of gulls I could identify were adult ringers.  However, I saw a fairly tight group was resting at the north end of Jug Bay, of uniform age, mostly sitting on the ice, but a few were seen in the air briefly before landing among the group.  I kept thinking when I saw one of these in flight that I was seeing tell-tale white flashes in the wings, but due to the fog was not sure.  I kept thinking it can't be Bonies, there are just too many!  Bottom line - I am not sure and won't count them since I did not positively id them.  I am off today and with the clear weather will hopefully get another chance!

Other notes (catching up).  I have been busy and apologize for lack of timely posting.  I've been very busy at work, but had a great birding start for 2011.  I've used most of my free time chasing winter species on the eastern shore of MD and DE.  Delinquent highlights from last weekend:

Truitts Landing (Sunday 1-16) 8:15-9:40 am:
1 Common Teal.  Lifer!  Best find of teh week.  This species was previously reported here 8 days ago, but not since then (to my knowledge).  Consistent cold weather kept shallow open water and marshes mostly frozen.  I was hoping with the temps above 30 that morning that there would be some open water and was happy to see plenty of it when I arrived.  The last time I was here was a year ago, when I looked there for this same species (previously reported at the same location last winter)!  But a dramatic drop in temp had nearly all the open water frozen then, and all the puddle ducks had left.  So this year I was very happy to see about 500 ducks, swans and geese at the closest pond on south side of road when I arrived.  When I noticed all the teal I was pretty excited, and scoped through the flock carefully.  After several minutes I had seen most of the teal, and wondered if I would be able to recognize it if it was here.  The birds moved a lot and enabled a good view of many of them, but it was impossible to see every individual due to their constant movement.  All of a sudden there it was.  Obvious.  A very prominent bold white horizontal stripe and no trace of a vertical one like the American Green-wing.  I only saw it briefly before a few others moved in front of it, blocking it from view.  I got out a camera to try for a digiscope, and had difficulty re-finding the bird.  Several minutes passed again before I re-found it.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo before all the birds got up.  They circled around and some left for the back pond, while some returned.  I found it again, and tried for a digiscope photo but missed it.  I don't know how folks do it so well.  I have had a few good pics this way, but I need very cooperative subjects - which this bird was not!

1 King Rail.  Heard only, making grunt calls (voluntary; I was not playing any recording), from near the edge of marsh and woods on north side of road.  First impression was King, but had a lingering suspicion as to possibility of Clapper.  Seemed like the right habitat for King, and call seemed clear enough, hmm.  Seemed like an odd time of day (~ 1.5 hours post sunrise) for spontaneous call during winter.  Then Kurt S arrived, and we tried to find the Common Teal again, but had no luck.  Most teal were in back pond at that time, which is nearly impossible to see well enough to id birds.  And it is not accessible (area is posted as private property; you must remain on road).  We discussed rails, and he mentioned a King he observed hear previously.  After I left, he saw the King rail, and posted about it!

2 Nelson's Sparrows.  Seen well as they were perched briefly in patch of vegetation at end of road, on far south end.  Also a possible bird that flushed and rapidly dove for cover on north side of road about half way to end of marsh.  Id not confirmed, but bird looked bright and had the right feel.  Not seen well enough to rule out other Ammodramus sp.  

Misses:  Sedge wren. A target species for me here, previously reported a week ago.  I hoped to find one but found only 3 separate Marsh Wrens.

Reeses Corner Road, Monday (1-17):
Golden Eagle.  One adult seen at mid-morning on north side of road.  Viewed in flight with binoculars, passed slowly over several agricultural fields in the area.  Many Bald Eagles also seen in same area (2 adult and 4 imm).

Rt 309 N of Queen Anne, Tuesday (1-18):
G. White-fronted Goose.  One seen w/ flock of 396 Canada's off Rt 309 at mid-afternoon on Tuesday.  About .6 mi. north of Back Starr Rd, on East side of 309.

Sandy Point State Park, Tuesday (1-18):
Snow Bunting.  One seen in very late afternoon, foraging in the grass on a slope behind the NE-most bathroom building.  My first time ever birding at this park!  Was surprised and a little insulte that state of MD makes you pay to get in even when the park is closed.  SNBU was reported a couple days previously at this location as eBird rarity sightings, so I came there to look.  Searched high and low with no luck, from center of beach area all the way around to farthest jetty to the north.  Was about to quit when I saw Rob O. from a distance, scanning the Bay w scope.  I called him to say hello and after first checking with each other regarding any rarities seen, I mentioned SNBU was target but had no luck, and said I would be over to join him shortly.  Hung up and before I got there Rob had one in his scope.  Maybe I should have been wanting to try for Northern Wheatear!

Great Cormorant.  One, found by Rob O, perching on the lighthouse. 

Missed targets from weekend:
Clay-colored Sparrow - at Ironshire (Mason Rd).  Looked around, no luck.
Eurasian Wigeon - looked for it at Bayside Development Pond and West OC Pond.  Consolation was Redhead; nice puddle duck variety at both ponds but no luck with EUWI.
Northern Shrike - walked around the entire loop at Assateague Island - Bayside Campground, but had no luck.  Consolation species was Fox Sparrow.

Good finds in DE (Sun 1-16):  Rough-legged Hawk, Ross's Goose, and OC Warbler.

The Black-capped Chickadees are still coming to our feeders (PG County).

Cheers to all, have a great weekend!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD