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Subject:

Western Maryland

From:

Jim Green

Reply-To:

Jim Green

Date:

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:23:43 -0400

Hi Everybody: I spent the better part of yesterday birding in western MD. I arrived at Rocky Gap (All. Co.) just before daylight and had an impressive array of waterfowl still moving through. When I arrived it was extremely overcast, a misty rain coming down and the clouds were extremely low which actually afforded great viewing conditions on the lake. I saw 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK and 3 HORNED GREBES. There were also Greater Scaup (5), Bufflehead (13), and 8 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. The most impressive sighting was the COMMON LOONS - all were in full breeding plumage and were moving on the water in very close proximity at times in one large group - I counted 20 of them! There were lots of swallows flying around; at one point they all landed on the sandy beach and I counted 230 Tree and 8 Barn. There were also 3 BONAPARTE'S GULLS (and 1 Ring-necked).

After leaving Rocky Gap I drove Mason Rd. I did some roadside birding and on one of my stops I had 2 low-flying Common Loons pass over and they were giving their unique call as they passed by. I also had one actively singing Blue-headed Vireo along Mason Road. At the pond there were several Wood Ducks and 1 Ruddy Duck.

Continuing west just before I reached the eastern border of Garrett Co. I was in a very thick fog and when I reached Piney Run it was completely fogged in. There was a little bit of visibility near the dam where I saw 1 each of Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, an Osprey, 19 Double-crested Cormorants all perched on snags. I felt that the fog was there for a while and started heading back east.

I spent most of the afternoon in Washington Co. mostly on back roads and then worked my way back home. All my interesting birds seemed to be further west.

Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD.

work in moderation, BIRD IN EXCESS!!!

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