Hi Everyone,

A quick note before I head out to look for a couple more county birds in 2011...

Yesterday (30 Dec 2011), at the Salisbury Landfill (with Elaine Hendricks at first and then later with Mike Walsh; all birds seen in the sandpit that is easily viewed from Naylor Mill Rd):

Glaucous Gull (first cycle)

Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull (first cycle)--continuing bird found by Mikey Lutmerding I believe

Lesser Black-backed Gull--several

a possible Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid--thanks to Matt Hafner and Mikey Lutmerding for helping me out with the id of this bird (photos available--please email if interested)

Next Mike Walsh and I successfully chased the WESTERN KINGBIRD at the Hurlock WWTP.  While we were there, the bird was along the perimeter of the dikes (outside the WWTP) and was even on the fence on Ennals Rd (with a few bluebirds) part of the time.

We had gotten word of a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the Denton WWTP, so we chased that too.  Mike spotted it in the front row of a big group of about 1500 Canada Geese.  We also picked out a Cackling Goose here.

One of my goals for 2012 is to make photos of all these birds and others available online (including through eBird).  Of course that will require a little more time indoors in the new year... we'll have to see about that...

Thanks to everyone for the reports that make all these chases possible and to Norm for providing the forum for all the news!

Have fun,

Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD

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