I went kayaking along the Patuxent River after work today, starting at the MD 4 bridge and going south to the marsh near Mt. Calvert.  A lot of waterfowl and shorebirds were present, with the highlights being one early Spotted Sandpiper along the river (Anne Arundel County side only), four Blue-winged Teal mixed in with a flock of Green-winged Teal, seven Greater Yellowlegs, and 18 Common Mergansers.  Other shorebirds seen included five Killdeer and 12 Wilson's Snipe, while other ducks included three Black Ducks, 11 Wood Ducks, two Northern Shovelers, and a few Mallards.  Three of the Common Mergansers were on the river and allowed me to approach fairly closely.  The other 15 flew up river as I began the trip back to the north.  There was a flock of 40 or so Green-winged Teal in the marsh.  Other birds heard or seen included 4 Tree Swallows and 7 or 8 Osprey (it seemed like they were on every platform available).  The only gulls that I saw were Ring-billed.

At Schoolhouse Pond, I had my first Eastern Phoebe of the season (this morning and at lunch), a Tree Swallow was present at noon, and a group of 25 or so Wilson's Snipe flushed from the mudflats near the rear observation platform.  Good birding,

Fred Shaffer
Crofton, Anne Arundel


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