Hi All,

The Kent Bird Club trip to Horsehead (aka the Chesapeake Bay 
Environmental Center) in Grasonville on Saturday produced 68 mostly 
human-powered species. We walked the trails, covering over 2.5 miles, 
and they were rewarding miles.

It was Nuthatch Day. We had 7 Red-breasted Nuthatches, presumably many 
were migrants from points south. Brown-headed Nuthatches were also 
remarkably vocal and thus conspicuous (for them). We had 13, indicating 
a recent population increase here. This included a pair working on a 
nest hole in a snag adjacent to the viewing platform next to the kayaks 
on  Marshy Creek. Other highlights were good numbers of some 
late-departing waterfowl: 650 Ruddy Ducks, 145 Surf Scoters, 66 
Buffleheads, 37 Green-winged Teal, and 20 Canvasbacks. Also late were 2 
adult and one immature Tundra Swan. There was a single male BLACK SCOTER 
among the Surfs. There were 8 adult Northern Gannets plunge-diving in 
Prospect Bay, and we had 5 summer-plumage Common Loons, 9 Horned Grebes, 
and 3 Great Egrets. Land birds included a Wild Turkey gobbler found by 
our son Ian, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 11 Purple Martins, an early BANK 
SWALLOW, 2 singing Brown Thrashers, and a Gray Catbird. The place was in 
fine form, despite a damp gray chill at the start it warmed up, and the 
birds were active and songful for much of the day. We have attached our 
full e-bird report below our signature block.

Good Birding,

Walter Ellison & Nancy Martin

Chestertown, MD

410-778-9568

Observing Nature is like unwrapping a big pile of presents every time 
you take a walk.

Location:     Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Horsehead)
Observation date:     4/9/11
Notes:     Other observers: Nancy Martin, Bill Trackett Jim Dennis. Ian Ellison reported the turkey gobbler. Decent numbers of some migrants about especially flickers, swallows, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Brown-headed Nuthatches seemed especially vocal today, we laid eyes on nine of them including 2 working on a nest hole right next to the platform at the kayak launch. Nice to hear and see the yellowthroats it's been a long winter.
Number of species:     68

Canada Goose     5
Tundra Swan     3
Wood Duck     6
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid)     1
Mallard     26
Green-winged Teal (American)     37
Canvasback     20
Lesser Scaup     28
Greater/Lesser Scaup     10
Surf Scoter     145
Black Scoter     1
Bufflehead     66
Ruddy Duck     650
Wild Turkey     1
Common Loon     5
Horned Grebe     9
Northern Gannet     8
Double-crested Cormorant     28
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret     3
Black Vulture     2
Turkey Vulture     20
Osprey     13
Bald Eagle     6
Northern Harrier     3
American Coot     3
Killdeer     2
Greater Yellowlegs     4
Bonaparte's Gull     2
Herring Gull (American)     1
Great Black-backed Gull     1
Forster's Tern     4
Mourning Dove     8
Great Horned Owl     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
Downy Woodpecker     7
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     18
Blue Jay     7
American Crow     1
Fish Crow     6
Purple Martin     11
Tree Swallow     250
Bank Swallow     1
Barn Swallow     12
Carolina Chickadee     13
Red-breasted Nuthatch     7
Brown-headed Nuthatch     13
Carolina Wren     15
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Eastern Bluebird     2
Hermit Thrush     1
American Robin     20
Gray Catbird     1
Northern Mockingbird     9
Brown Thrasher     2
European Starling     5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     24
Pine Warbler     10
Common Yellowthroat     3
Eastern Towhee     10
Song Sparrow     4
Swamp Sparrow     7
White-throated Sparrow     37
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)     9
Northern Cardinal     20
Red-winged Blackbird     150
Common Grackle     100
Brown-headed Cowbird     14
American Goldfinch     8





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