Hi everybody:
I was really looking forward to birding today; finally a day off without a need for raingear. I watched all of the baseball playoffs until almost midnight on Tuesday night and decided at the last minute to be at Eastern Neck NWR in Kent County just before first daylight. I was really pleased with my timing. I stopped just before the bridge over to the Refuge at 6:45 AM and immediately started birding...perfect time to arrive I told myself! Fifteen minutes later I had seen Forster's (1) and Caspian Terns (3) and also Bonaparte's Gulls (9). I crossed the bridge (with thoughts of finding the Red-headed Woodp[ecker(s) that were recently reported ONLY to find a STOP...DO NOT ENTER sign on the other side of the bridge leading into the refuge. I pulled over and immediately encountered a ranger after getting out of my car. He was very polite but nicely informed me that the refuge was closed today because it was open only to "HANDICAPPED BOW HUNTERS for DEER". I ASKED IF I COULD MAKE A QUICK DRIVE THROUGH IF I BIRDED ONLY FROM MY CAR ONLY BUT IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE. Dejectedly I turned around and reconfigured my route.
On the way to Eastern Neck NWR I had pulled in and noticed that the gate to the Cheasapeake Farms Wildlife Loop was open so this would be my first stop. Ispent alsost 2 hours here and had an enjoyable time. Birds of note included (in order first seen) Savannah Sparrow (4), Great Egret (4), Swamp Sparrow (2), BOBOLINK (7 - a county bird), Blue Grosbeak (6), Ruby-throated Humming bird (3), MAGNOLIA WARBLER (1), BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (3), NASHVILLE WARBLER (1), Pied -billed Grebe (1), BLUE-HEADED VIREO (1), White-throated (5) and White-crowned (1) Sparrows (both first of season) and Blackpoll Warbler (1).
I then stopped in the parking lot at the St. Paul's Church off of Ricaud's Branch Rd. and walked down to the pond from the church parking lot. Best birds here were Little Blue Heron (1 imm) and American Wigeon (5). Shortly after I left the parking lot I saw a Caspian Tern flying over the pond.
I then drove into Chesapeake Farms and saw the following in the shallow ponds: Pied-billed Grebe (3), Mallard (only 9), Northern Shoveler (6) and Northern Pintail (49 that I counted and probably 10-20% more in the back grasses). On the way out I saw 2 Savannah Sparrows.
A quick stop off of Lovers Lane I saw the following while walking a 1/4 mile down "LIBBY'S NATURE TRAIL": Wood Thrush (1), Blue-headed Vireo (1), Black-throated Green Warbler (1) and Blackpoll Warbler (1). It struck me as very coincidental that I had also seen these same species earlier today (except for the Wood thrush).
At the Chestertown Filtration Plant I found the Blue-winged Teal (6) that were reported by Ron Gutberlet (and also seen by Jim Brighton and John Hubbell over this past w/e).
I then had to make a decision whether to head south back into QA County or head north into Cecil County. Spurred on by the fantasy that I could drive to Elk Neck St. Pk. and try for my Red-headed Woodpecker (which I also needed in Cecil County) I headed north. Reality set in shortly thereafter and I decided that instead of driving all afternoon and doing no birding I would bird some other Cecil hot spots that I enjoy. I went to BETHEL MHA and arrived after 1:30 PM., I walked into the woods and came out on the eastern side of the edge of the body of water (not sure if it has a name or not) and scanned from there. Other than a D-C Cormorant and 4 Ruddy Ducks there was nothing else to be seen. The wooded area on the walk out and back was extremely quiet also.
I then walked east a short distance along the dike (that had been recently stripped of vegetation) and scanned with the scope and thought I saw a pair of yellowlegs feeding in the water's edge at the far end but could not be sure. Since I have had such pathetic luck with shorebirds in Cecil County I decided to walk down the dike in there direction. A third of the way down I confirmed the 2 Gr. Yellowlegs and also then picked up movement of a few smaller shorebirds in the dried mud on the bank behind the yellowlegs. I decided to keep walking in that direction. Every 100 yards or so I would scope the area and see more shorebird movement. Before I knew it I was at the far end of the impoundment and because the water level was low at the eastern end I was looking at my personal best concentration of shorebirds that I had ever come across in Cecil County since I started birding there. I had a mere 6 species which tells you the poor luck I have had over the years. I saw Killdeer (4), Semi-palmated Plovers (5), Least Sandpipers (10), Greater (2) and Lesser (3) Yellowlegs and Semi-palmated Sandpipers (10). Both of the Semis were county birds for me. On the walk back I saw Forster's (2) and Caspian (1) Terns and 23 Tree Swallows.
My last stop of the day was at Chesland Park off of Elk Forest Rd. Spurred on by my recent shorebird bonanza I thought that I would check the wetland habitat that is seen on your left as you drive in. I did not find a single bird here. I then continued to drive into the park (past the wetland area in a counterclockwise direction). On the far side of the parking lot was a flooded area in a field that I had first seen like this over a month ago. I did not see any signs of birds in the water or wet grasses with my naked eye. After several minutes of scanning with binoculars from the car I detected some slight movement in the six inch high grasses at the water's edge on the far side. I walked around in that direction. As I approached the area I saw movement. As I approached 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS moved out of the grass towards the waters edge. I froze in my tracks and observed them in my scope for several minutes and then retreated to my car. This was my 3rd county shorebird today.
I then decided to head home to watch more baseball!
Jim Green
Gaithersburg, MD
work in moderation, BIRDING IN EXCESS!!!
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