Hi Everyone,

My plan for the day (30 Jan 2011) was to try to track down a few more year birds before the end of the month.  I only added one:  Cackling Goose in Talbot Co--whew!  I have all kinds of excuses for my other misses, but there would have been no alibi for this one!  Although my year list barely budged, I actually had a very good day of birding.

On my way to Tanyard Marsh to try for Wilson's Snipe, I stopped to scan a huge Snow Goose flock south of Hurlock in Dorchester County.  I scanned until I found a ROSS'S GOOSE.

No snipe at Tanyard Marsh (Caroline Co)--what?!--but an even bigger surprise was an immature GLAUCOUS GULL.  I first noticed the gull as it flew over the marsh about 50 yards from me.  Very pale overall; pure, bright white primaries; bicolored bill (bright pink and black); large size.  I followed the Glaucous with my scope as it flew over and landed in the middle of the Choptank River, a few hundred yards south of the Dover Bridge.  The gull flew far enough downriver that I could no longer see it very well after it landed, but there are many gulls close to the road here; maybe the Glaucous will stick around.  An adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL also continues here.

Next I toured Horned Lark flocks in Talbot and Queen Anne's Counties, especially those that had held a longspur or two recently.  Despite a close inspection of over 300 Horned Larks, and a few American Pipits too, I could not turn up a longspur.  But the highlights kept coming:

Thousands of geese and about 100 Tundra Swans were along Lewiston Rd between Bluff Point Drive and Covey's Landing Rd in Talbot County.  I estimated (conservatively I think) at least 6000 Canada Geese and 1500 SNOW GEESE.  I stayed with the geese for about an hour until I found a CACKLING GOOSE and a ROSS'S GOOSE.  I had just about given up on the Ross's when a Bald Eagle flew over and shuffled the deck.  I spotted the much smaller Ross's just before it landed and then had brief views of it on the ground (small size, short neck, stubby bill without a grin patch).

Covey's Landing Rd had many more Snow and Canada Geese.

Finally, I had 3 SNOW BUNTINGS on Leverage Rd in Queen Anne's County with a small group of Horned Larks.

Almost time to get working on that Feb list...

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD
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