Hi Everybody:
I spent the last 2 days (April 3 & 4) birding on the Eastern Shore. It was a pleasant two days with a nIce mix of First of Year birds, some interesting sightings and a few county birds to go with it. I will attempt (and probably fail) to keep this brief and still cover the highlights. I arrived home just in time to watch the NCAA Final game and am in much need of sleep so here goes.
I started on Sunday at Tuckahoe St. Pk. concentrating on the Caroline side in hopes of finding a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. I spent an hour with no luck but heard then saw my FOY La. Waterthrush. Near the parking lot I also heard the first of many Pine Warblers that I would enjoy over the next 2 days. My next stop was successful. The pair of N. Shovelers that Jim Brighton found earlier in the week were still there in Denton (Thanks Jim, great find). I then went to Martinak St. Park. There was a very birdy section at the edge of the boat ramp and here I found my Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. I also had an interesting observation. I watched a Brown Creeper crawl up a tree, then down the same tree; up again then down again, and then up again and down a 3rd time before finally flying off to a different tree.
I spent a half hour scoping the Tanyard Marsh from Rt. 331 (Caroline Co.) and saw 72 Green-winged Teal, 5 Greater and 33 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Caspian (FOY) and 3 Forster's Terns, 3 Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Wilson's Snipe.
I then drove down to see if I could relocate Mark Hoffman's White Ibis at the West Ocean City Pond but did not see it. Wading birds that were there included 3 Great Egrets, 2 Snowy Egrets (FOY) and 1 Cattle Egret (FOY). I then headed back to Wicomico Co. and met up with Mike Walsh. It was mid-afternoon and the early warbler arrivals in the Nassawango area were very quiet. We did hear both La. Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Warbler on Mt. Olive Rd.
After that we visited several areas along the Nanticoke River. We were unable to find Ron Gutberlet's Eared Grebe at Cove Road but did see 3 Brown Pelicans sitting on the river. Our next stop was the Nanticoke Wharf where Mike found a male Black Scoter in with several Surf Scoters. We also saw 8 more Brown Pelicans and at least 4 Northern Gannets flying around.
Our last stop was at Whitehaven (I was hoping for Boat-tailed Grackle but no success). We did see 3 Forster's Terns, 7 Royal Terns (FOY) and 1 Purple Martin(FOY).
On Monday I drove down Muddy Hole Rd. and went to the end of the parking area at Ellis Bay arriving just before daylight. The winds were wicked and howling and everything was extremely quiet. I left and gradually started working my west. In the "Plantations" development (so far no houses and only 2 small ponds) off of Old Railroad Rd. (Wic. Co.) there were 2 Great Egrets standing in a field.
I then drove down first Riverton Rd. and then Bradley Rd. before leaving Wicomoco Co. Pine Warblers were very vocal and I had my FOY House Wren on Riverton Rd.
I then decided to drive down to Tilghman's Island. I took a quick detour to Claiborne's Landing on the way. My best birds here were 2 Foster's Terns, 1 Northen Gannet and a pair of (FOY) Barn Swallows. When I reached the bridge to Tilghman I parked just before the bridge and then walked up on top (at Knapp's Narrow) and was pleasantly surprised to find the Red-necked Grebe still there. It was on the west side of the bridge in close company of a Common Loon. I did not turn up anything unusual while scanning the water at the point.
I then headed towards Pickering Creek. On a farm pond off of Todd's Corner Rd. I found 1 male Blue-winged Teal in among the 28 Green-winged Teal. At Pickering Creek I only scanned the pond from the road and counted 76 Green-winged Teal and 18 Northern Shovelers.
I then drove over to Rt. 309 (QA Co.) and found some waterfowl in the pond that is closest to Rt. 213:
3 Tundra Swans
4 American Black Ducks
24 Green-winged Teal
4 Blue-winged Teal
2 American Wigeon
3 Lesser Scaup
3 Ring-necked Ducks
My last stop of the day was at the CBEC in QA Co. Highlights here included a full breeding plumage Horned Grebe, 1 Northern Gannet and 1 Snowy Egret.
Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD
work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!
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