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Subject:

Lark Sparrow, LBBG, and Brownn-headed Nuthatch

From:

Fred Shaffer

Reply-To:

Fred Shaffer

Date:

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:05:48 -0500

The Patuxent Bird Club/Prince George's Audubon Society held a trip to various locations on the eastern shore today.  A total of ten participants visited a variety of habitats and had good views of several rare or semi-rare birds, the highlight of which was the continuing Lark Sparrow at Assateague State Park.  Highlights from each stop included:

Cambridge waterfront:  Waterfowl were relatively few here, but we did see one Surf Scoter, two American Wigeon, several Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead, a Pied-billed Grebe, and a distant flock of Snow Geese in flight.

Naylor Mill Road:  Initially there were no birds on the pond, but just as we were preparing to leave, there was a huge exodus of gulls from the landfill and soon  the pond was teeming with birds.  Most consisted of Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, but also present was two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one of which seemed to have a slightly paler mantle color, but otherwise appeared normal for LBBG.  It may have been a LBBG x Herring hybrid, as it seemed intermediate between the two species in some ways.  Dave Mozurkewich also had a 1st winter Iceland Gull, but the rest of us were unable to get on the bird in the swirling flock above.  Several Bald Eagles also passed high overhead.

Assateague State Park:  We got great views of the Lark Sparrow near the bath house by Pump Station 2.  First we had it for an extended period of time atop a post behind the bath house, than we had even closer views as it foraged on the ground.  The bird was still present and visible when we left after viewing it for approximately 45 minutes.  Also present were Yellow-rumped Warblers, Song Sparrows, a flicker, and flyover gulls.

Assateague Visitor's Center:  A brief stop here revealed a group of Brant, a small group of gulls (including a few Bonaparte's Gulls) on a nearby mudflat, and several Bufflehead.

Ocean City Inlet:  It was very blustery here, but there were a decent number of birds present.  Waterfowl included Black Duck, Brant, Surf Scoter, both species of Loons, a sizeable (50 or 60) flock of Long-tailed Ducks, and a handful of Common Eiders visible on the far side of the jetty.  Also of note was a brief flyby view of a Great Cormorant.  Other highlights here included one Bonaparte's Gull and one American Oystercatcher.

Shorter's Wharf Road:  We missed Short-eared Owls here this evening, but we did have several Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers.  The highlight for me was a lone, squeaky Brown-headed Nuthatch in the one live Loblolly Pine that extended out into the area of marsh where we stood.  Other birds present included Greater Yellowlegs (and one Lesser Yellowlegs), Common Mergansers, and a few Hooded Mergansers.  We were also treated to close views of four flyby Wilson's Snipe.  We also had a distant, large flock of Snow Geese.  Four Tundra Swans flew low overhead, calling as they passed.  We were also treated to a spectacular sunset over the marsh.

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent Bird Club


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