Hi Everyone,

Carol and I checked a few water spots in Queen Anne's County this afternoon (23 Dec 2011).

At the Romancoke Pier (south end of Rt 8 on Kent Island), we had a nice variety of diving birds:

Long-tailed Duck--12
Common Goldeneye--3
Bufflehead--30
Surf Scoter--1
Red-throated Loon--5
Common Loon--2
Horned Grebe--2

As we were getting ready to leave Romancoke, I noticed a very large brown and white bird flying over the water.  I assumed it would be an immature Bald Eagle, but when I got the scope on it, I was surpised to see a huge bill--BROWN PELICAN!  Carol saw it in flight through the scope also; but when I returned to the scope, I couldn't see the bird.  As I scanned for it, I came across 3 Brown Pelicans together on the water.  I couldn't find them again a few minutes later, but maybe they're still hanging around that area.

Three immature Black-crowned Night-Herons were at the pond at Kent Narrows.

At CBEC, among other birds, were:

Gadwall--1
American Wigeon--9
Canvasback--3
Redhead--14
Ring-necked Duck--10
American Coot--120

The Rt 309 Pond closest to Rt 213 had a huge flock of Canada Geese with one Snow Goose, hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls, and:

American Black Duck--2
Mallard--3
Northern Shoveler--1 female
Green-winged Teal--4
Ring-necked Duck--18
Hooded Merganser--15
Pied-billed Grebe--1
American Coot--3

Happy CBC Season!  Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD

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