Not a late report but a late bird.  

While at Lake Artemesia about 4:00 this afternoon, September 1, 2011, I
watched a young ROYAL TERN fly in from the north, circle the lake twice
and depart.  I kept watch for the next two hours but it did not
reappear.  This is my first record of this species for northern Prince
George's county and the 200th species I've seen along this three-mile
stretch of Indian Creek (Sunnyside Ave to the Airport).  I would love
to know where it spent the last three days.  Was it one of the birds
displaced north along the Potomac River into DC and Montgomery county?
If so, why did it head overland instead of downstream?  If it was storm
driven and not along the Potomac, where did it come ashore and how far
inland did it go before heading south?

Now for the late report.  I spent a few hours last Saturday morning
watching the Potomac River from the pier at the National Colonial Farm.
I quit during the fourth heavy squall when conditions had deteriorated
to the point where I was no longer able to identify the birds I could
actually see.  When I left, there were still two fishermen toughing
it out; one was catching a steady stream of catfish.  Bird-wise, there
were about 60 Forster's Terns and a couple of Caspian Terns feeding in
the area and there was a steady flow of Laughing Gulls heading upstream,
many were dark birds of the year.  Perhaps 100 gulls in all.  I counted
exactly zero Black Terns.  I was surprised at the time and considering
how widespread the reports of this species were that day, I am even more
surprised now.  This species is usually present here this time of year,
especially in bad weather.

Dave
David Mozurkewich 
mozurk at bell atlantic dot net
Seabrook MD

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