Howdy,

Kevin Oxenrider, Jacob Popham, Ryan Steiner and I carpooled from Frostburg to Kent County to check out the GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW with much success...and several bonuses.

Just before turning into Chesapeake Farms around 10:15, we spotted a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT in the scrub beside the road (Ricaud's Branch). Afterward, we searched the hedgerows on Remington Road for 30 minutes before seeing the (fortunately for us) long-staying sparrow, present with many White-throated, and White-crowned Sparrow. 

We trucked on down to Eastern Neck NWR, and tallied exactly 166 TUNDRA SWANS, and many of the expected ducks- GOLDENEYE, Bufflehead, Am. Black Ducks, et al. 

Before crossing the Bay Bridge on our return trip, we stopped at Terrapin Nature Park to scan the bay. We spotted a VESPER SPARROW off the field trail. The biting wind was prohibitive of scanning the bay for interesting gull, so we shot over to Sandy Point SP. The ICELAND GULL was still present, though it took it's sweet time flying in close enough for our party- and about six other birders to enjoy. It was a great day to be out!

Photos of the sparrow and gull are up: www.flickr.com/photos/mattyfioner/

Good birding!
Matt

Matt Tillett
Cumberland, MD
www.flickr.com/photos/mattyfioner/