Hi Everyone,

As Mark posted, the Rarity Roundup - the best weekend of the birding year - will be held on Saturday, November 12th.

2011 has proven to be a truly exceptional year for rare birds in Maryland. Sadly, however, many of us suffer from a debilitating rarity fever that has just one documented cure: two action-packed days in Worcester Co. during peak vagrant season. (For good measure, add nightly doses of Mexican beer.) Will this be the year for the record books?

WHERE: All of Worcester County, Maryland.

WHY THIS COUNT?  Worcester County is indisputably the birdiest county in Maryland, and early November is the best time to search for fall vagrants. 

HOW: Contact Bill Hubick (), Mark Hoffman (), and Matt Hafner (). Include your cell phone number and any preferences on territories. We'll try to accommodate.

WHAT IS IT: The event is organized similar to any formal bird count, but with one main exception. Our primary goal is to detect and document rare species. If a mega-rarity is found during the count, all participants are encouraged to abandon their territories and give chase. Sunday is reserved for the more expected rarities and more searching. Data is maintained between years, and all participants will be harassed to report their observations to eBird. Hopefully we'll also be sending reports to the MD/DCRC.

Google Map of Territories:
http://tinyurl.com/6yrgna

WHERE TO STAY: For those planning on staying near Ocean City, a clean and relatively affordable motel is the Francis Scott Key on Route 50, just west of the bridge into Ocean City.  (http://www.fskmotel.com/)

By the way, the Virginia Rarities Roundup is usually the first Saturday in November. If you are interested in joining a Maryland mercenary contingent to that foreign land to our south, please contact Todd Day ().

Please note that increased participation means that the logistics for the count, especially the tally rally, can be a challenge. Due to the event's popularity and the laws of physics, we might need to limit attendance of the tally rally festivities.

Hope you can join us!

Good birding!

Bill

Bill, Mark, and Matt

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com


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