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Subject:

White Ibis at Lilypons, Ruddy Turnstone and Stilt Sandpipers at Swan Creek

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Mon, 8 Aug 2011 03:34:36 -0700

Hi Everyone,

Despite the heat and humidity, I had a fun and productive day birding between Frederick Co. and my home in Anne Arundel Co. The WHITE IBIS at Lilypons was a major highlight, and I understand the tally reached four birds by the end of the day. From what I've heard, the birds were seen into late in the afternoon. As posted earlier, follow the main gravel road past/behind the main building and check the left (west) side. While there, I also had several looks at a COMMON RAVEN that was being relentlessly mobbed by quite a large murder of American Crows, about 30 individuals in total. There was one LEAST SANDPIPER and two SOLITARY SANDPIPERs. The PURPLE MARTINs have departed the site. Butterflies included Viceroy and Hackberry Emperor.

I then did a lot of wandering around the county checking many fields and ponds for shorebirds. Here are a few sightings of interest:

Oland Road (west of 85 and south side of road):

UPLAND SANDPIPER--2
Horned Lark--2
Grasshopper Sparrow--3

Baker Park in Frederick City:
(I had never visited, and decided to check it out.)

Black-crowned Night-Heron--1 immature

Pond south of Simmons Road, northern Frederick Co.

NORTHERN SHOVELER--1 hen. I considered this on-time for the vanguard, but one day earlier than the fall arrival date in the current Yellow Book.
Killdeer--1
Lesser Yellowlegs--1
Solitary Sandpiper--1
Least Sandpiper--3
Semipalmated Sandpiper--1

Pond on Tom's Creek Church Road, northern Frederick Co. - Looked good for shorebirds, holding one Lesser Yellowlegs and two Killdeer.

A cruise of western Carroll Co. was enjoyable, but rather slow. Highlights were a VESPER SPARROW on Sharrett Road, high counts of staging Barn Swallows, and a few American Kestrels.

North Liberty Reservoir, off Route 140 on the Baltimore/Carroll border, looks decent for shorebirds, but held nothing of interest despite the interesting weather. Jim Brighton told me the WWTP in New Windsor had decent flats as well, holding a Pectoral among small numbers of others.

Before heading home, I coordinated with Ed Carlson to do an evening survey of Swan Creek. A small number of us conduct official surveys after-hours in coordination with site management and the port authority, and contribute our data. We are actively pursuing additional opportunities for after-hours access for the public, but it's a complex issue. We'll keep you posted if we're able to arrange any additional access. As it is, this site has already been exceptional in the extent to which it has tried to accommodate us. See the short summary on visiting hours below.

Sunday evening at Swan Creek

RUDDY TURNSTONE--1. Only my second in the county. 
STILT SANDPIPER--11
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER--4. One bright hendersoni.
WESTERN SANDPIPER--4
Pectoral Sandpiper--3
Semipalmated Plover--3
Lesser Yellowlegs--14
Semipalmated Sandpiper--189
Least Sandpiper--22, as is their habit here, often foraging on the dry ground away from the impoundments

Laughing Gull--38
Caspian Tern--12
Royal Tern--1

Hooded Merganser--juvenile among the roosting Mallards. A new August bird for me. I have distant digiscope images, but plumage is like this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmgadd/4973913281/

** Swan Creek/Cox Creek is an active industrial site and mitigation project in northern Anne Arundel Co. Access is at the end of Kembo Road off Fort Smallwood Road near 695. The site is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Remember to sign in, to be on your best behavior (people have worked hard to coordinate this access), and to stick to permitted areas. Here is a map with details about where you are and aren't allowed to be. You can find it in the "Assorted Documents" page off my home page: http://www.billhubick.com/documents.php.

I'll submit the full lists and documentation photos to eBird.

Good birding,

Bill


Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com

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