Dave Mozurkewich, Jack Saba, George Shaffer, and I attended the annual Patuxent Bird Club/PG Audubon Society field trip to the eastern shore today.  We made multiple stops throughout the day which were productive.  The highlights included a 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Salisbury Landfill (viewed from Naylor Mill Road), the Eurasian (Common) Teal at Truitt's Landing, and 2 Harlequin Ducks, 30+ Common Eiders, and one 1st winter King Eider at Ocean City Inlet.  A few more details from each stop are included below:

Salisbury Landfill - this was the first time I viewed the birds from Naylor Mill Road and there was certainly no shortage of gulls to sort through.  Of course, there were hundreds of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and slightly smaller numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls.  But, the highlights that we saw (over about 1 hour or so) were one pale 1st winter Glaucous Gull and 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  The Lesser Black-backed Gulls were immediately visible on the mudflat next to the pond.  The Glaucous Gull flew onto the pond after we had been there 45 minutes or so - a very big, impressive bird at rest and in flight!  It seems like there is a continuous turnover of gulls between the landfill and the pond area, which is good as the birds are much easier to view on the "pond" side of the road.  We also had one pale, contrasting Herring Gull that was interesting, but as we never saw the tail or the extended wing, we couldn't determine if it was the same gull photographed earlier in the week that was suggestive of European Herring Gull.

Next, we went to Truitt's Landing.  We immediately saw a flock of 350+ Green-winged Teal.  After sorting through the flock, Jack and Dave found the Eurasian (Common) Teal and we all got good views of the bird.  The bold horizontal stripe was clearly visible as the bird foraged in the water in a roughly circular pattern near the far shore.  We were unable to locate the Ruff.  In fact, no shorebirds were visible at all despite the presence of suitable mudflats.  And, at this point the wind was picking up so we were unable to see or hear any unusual sparrows or other marsh birds.

We also made quick stops at Mason Road (which had Song and White-throated Sparrows, but no Clay-colored Sparrow) and Ironshire Station Road, where we saw a group of Ring-billed Gulls, a group of Tundra Swans, and two Horned Larks.

Ocean City inlet was extremely productive.  A large flock of scoter was near the tip of the far jetty consisting of Surf Scoters and smaller numbers of Black Scoters.  Many Black Ducks were on or along the rocks.  Shorebirds included Ruddy Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, and Sanderlings.  But, best of all was the large flock (30+ birds) of Common Eiders - including several attractive adult males.  I also saw one 1st winter King Eider float into view briefly from the far side of the jetty.  We also got good views of a female and adult male Harlequin Duck near the jetty.  The male was particularly beautiful in the mid-afternoon light.  Also present were both species of loons and two Long-tailed Ducks.  Lastly, an immature Great Cormorant perched briefly on the jetty.

Our last stop was the bayside campground on Assateague.  We were unable to locate the Northern Shrike, but did have many Yellow-rumped Warblers in the low growth, as well as Song, White-throated, and Swamp Sparrows, Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, and a hunting Northern Harrier.  

Good birding,

Fred Shaffer

Crofton, Anne Arundel