January 1, 2012, “Earliest Bird” Trip to DC sites
Leader:  Mike Bowen
Participants:  20
Weather:  The warmest and most comfortable January 1st trip any of us could remember.  Sunny, no wind, just gorgeous.
Species count:  42

Result:  Georgetown Reservoir was strangely unproductive again this year, but the lack of waterfowl was compensated for by the sight of a Peregrine Falcon putting gulls and pigeons to panicked flight. The Peregrine then perched in a tree behind the reservoir.   The pond at Constitution Gardens was completely free of ice and gave us terrific close views of Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, and Bufflehead. The customary Black-crowned Night-herons were at the roost in the Washington Channel, but just four of them this year. Hains Point was not very birdy, although a few lucky participants got to see a flying Common Loon. Our next birding spot was, as usual, the LBJ Memorial Grove on the D.C. side of the Boundary Channel.  Top birds there were a surprisingly late Great Egret on the channel bank above the footbridge to the Pentagon and a single Cackling Goose among many Canadas in the Columbia Island Marina.  The trip ended in Arlington County, Virginia, with a stop at Roaches Run near National Airport, where there were 7 Pied-billed Grebes, 8 Hooded Mergansers, two more Black-crowned Night-herons, our only Belted Kingfisher of the day and a beautiful, soaring adult Bald Eagle.

December 5, 2011 -- Lilypons Water Gardens, Bishop Claggett Center, Oland Rd.

Result: Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper, Leaders. 10 participants. Weather sunny, cold at 7:30 (heavy frost, light skim of ice) but warming to high 40s by late morning. Fortunately almost no wind. We had 45 species (plus two more seen by leader after group broke up just before noon). Not too many sparrows at Lilypons (compared to previous years) but a fair variety including American Tree and Swamp. Other birds of interest were a good assortment of duck: Green-winged Teal, American Black Duck, Hooded Merganser and a single Bufflehead; Wilson's Snipe and great looks at American Bittern.
The Claggett Center came through with White-crowned Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, as hoped. The most exciting moments came when we pulled off at the corner of Oland Rd. and Rt. 85 and found a little group of larks and one bright male Lapland Longspurongpsur just in front of the cars (near a tiny puddle)! They stuck around for about 10 minutes and all enjoyed great scope views.

Highlights were:

AMERICAN BITTERN - 1 Lilypons (almost the first bird seen)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR - 1 at Oland Rd., with a few Horned Larks, sometimes the closest bird -- male still showing a lot of color. It aggressively attacked several larks and chased them off. Photos taken!
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW -- 4 at Lilypons - not as many as day we scouted but always nice to see this lovely bird.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - 8 at Claggett Center

LBJS at Blue Mash, Friday, November 11

Result: Leader: Lydia Schindler. Participants: a full complement of 8, plus leader. Species: 41. Weather: Mostly sunny, blustery, chilly. We started out with an hour at the Oaks Landfill (with special permission), then followed the loop from Zion Road. Given the “gale force” winds, it is not surprising that raptor species outnumbered sparrows. We opened with an adult Bald Eagle and continued with kestrel, harrier, red-tail, red-shoulder, Cooper’s, and sharp-shinned. The large pond held 1 Green-winged Teal and 1 Ring-necked Duck. Sparrows were Song, Savannah, White-throated, and Field, plus Junco and Eastern Towhee—meager variety but some satisfying looks.  

The Big Sit, Sunday 9 October - The big Sit at Black Hill regional Park

Result: Leader: Chuck Parker. Participants: 13. We had beautiful weather for this year’s Big Sit and some wonderful sightings of raptors — although missing in action was the Red-tailed Hawk. We did see a Cooper’s, a couple of Sharpies, a few Red-shouldered Hawks, an Osprey, a Harrier, a Broad-winged, and both an  immature and a beautiful adult Bald Eagle. There were still chimney swifts overhead along with a Rough-winged Swallow and a few Tree Swallows. A Common Yellow-throat was heard and a couple of Yellow-rumps were seen. Nice views of Solitary Sandpipers and Spotted Sandpipers gave us an opportunity to compare the two, and a male and female Kingfisher spent a lot of time over the water and squabbling with each other. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was seen on the path but unfortunately did not come within view of our Big Sit circle. New arrivals were White-throated  Sparrow and the first of the season Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, but as yet there were no ducks on the water except mallards.

October 8, 2011 - Lilypons Water Gardens

Result: Mike Welch - Leader - A joint field trip of the Montgomery and Frederick Bird Clubs visited Lilypons Water Gardens in southern Frederick County. A dozen birders enjoyed gorgeous early fall weather and good birding. More than 60 species were recorded, including 11 species of warblers. The warblers included a
Cape May, several Tennessees, a couple of Nashvilles, and a Blackpoll. Although we couldn’t turn up a Nelson’s or a Lincoln’s Sparrow, sparrows were well represented with several White-Crowns and a Savannah being the most notable. A few of us had a quick glimpse of a probable Least Bittern, but it refused to come back out of the cattails. An adult Bald Eagle, A Great Egret, and a small flock of Rusty Blackbirds were other highlights.

Sunday September 18 - Lois Green Conservation Park

Result: Number in group:  9 including leader
Weather:  Sunny, 70’s
Species seen:  45

We enjoyed a nice variety of birds in a 3.5 hr. walk around most of the park, which was the first time most of the group had been there.  From the hill near the park sign, we had some early warbler activity, including Parula, Redstart, BT Green, and Magnolia, and well-seen Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Harrier.  Later we added two Sharpies, a nice adult Broadwing, and Red-shouldered and Redtailed Hawks as well. Other good birds included a late Warbling Vireo, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Waterthrush, both eastern and western Palm Warblers, and Nashville Warbler.  We totalled ten warbler species, but there were certainly a few species we missed.  I had seen a Wilson’s Warbler the previous morning, but we had no luck refinding it.

At the second pond we watched a very tame pair of Wood Ducks, including the male in eclipse plumage, with his unmistakable red eye and base of the bill easy to see in the scope.  All in all, a pleasant walk on a nice morning.

Saturday September 24, 2011 - Jug Bay Natural Area

Result: Leaders:  John Bjerke and Greg Kearns

Participants: 12

Species:  42

The annual September search by ANS and MBC for Sora and other marsh creatures went on under cloudy, humid skies. River and creek flows were very high after a month of exceptional rainfall. We had good, if brief, views of two Soras, two Virginia Rails, and two Least Bitterns. We heard at least four other Soras. Another highlight was a good study of a Common Tern flying about with several Forster's. There were many Wood Ducks and a few Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal. The cloudy skies slowed raptors but eventually we had Bald Eagles, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk. Marsh Wren antics delighted everyone. Perhaps the most interesting passerine was a hatch year White-eyed Vireo that softly sang a version of its primary song which will certainly be much louder and more assured next Spring. 

Wednesday September 14 - Rock Creek Park

Result: Leader: Wallace Kornack----I led three participants on a tour of the principal areas of the park---Ridge, Maintenance Yard, Nature Center and Dog Run. We had five warbler species, namely, Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Chestnut-sided and Cape May. There was nothing of particular note among the other birds that were seen.

Wednesday September 7, 2011 - Little Bennett Regional Park

Result: After being rained out on our original date, six enthusiastic birders joined me for a morning walk at Little Bennett Regional Park on September 14.  We were hoping to come across some migrants and we were not disappointed. We encountered several fast moving flocks that tested our birding skills (and sometimes our patience).  We ended the day with 9 species of warbler, 3 species of vireo and several looks at empidonax flycatchers that defied identification.  Also of
interest was viewing the effects of the recent rains along Little Bennett Creek.  Looking at the debris left behind, we concluded that Little Bennett was not so little the previous week.

Saturday July 23, 2011 - Bombay Hook and environs, Leaders: John Bjerke and Cyndie Loeper

Result: Participants: 9, Species: 48 The traditional mid-summer shorebird trip with Audubon Naturalist Society encountered a complete shutdown of Rt 50 in early morning that required creative back-road driving to reach the Bay Bridge and impressive heat (100 deg). The reward for perserverance was some resident birds and many south-bound shorebird migrants. Water levels at Raymond Pool and Taylor's Gut were optimal. The 13 species of shorebird included several nice Stilt Sandpipers, numerous American Avocets, two juvenile Black-necked Stilts, two of the subspecies of Short-billed Dowitcher, and plenty of opportunity to study Least, Semipalmated, and Western Sandpipers. A short stop in the shade along the Bear Swamp Road in the mid-morning heat produced a surprising number of singing birds. A visit to Port Mahon caught the rising tide which is not good for birding and we found only one Sanderling. We retreated to Sambos in Leipsic for a late afternoon cool off. Our final stop was back at Raymond Pool. Although the study of silhouettes was interest ing, the ever increasing heat encouraged a slightly early end to the day.

Saturday June 4, 2011 - Patuxent River State Park, Hipsley Mill Road, Leaders: Joe Hanfman and Jim Moore

Result: Fourteen Howard and Montgomery County birders joined co-leaders Joe Hanfman and Jim Moore, searching for uncommon breeding species in this underbirded area right on the Howard-Montgomery county line. The weather was welcomingly and unseasonably cool, and the trail conditions challenging (as expected), but at least some members of the group saw or heard almost all the target species, including Veery, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Worm-eating Warbler. The only real miss was Cerulean Warbler, which was likely in the area but uncooperatively silent. Other birds of note included Yellow-throated Vireo, five more warbler species (Northern Parula, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Scarlet Tanager.

Saturday May 28, 2011 - Hot Spots for Red Knots

Co-leaders: Kurt Schwarz, Cyndie Loeper, and Bill Stewart. Participants: 16.

Result: Bugs in evidence but not horrendous. We had a typical spring shorebird migration. Dunlins, Black-bellied Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers including one Hendersonii subspecies, Eastern Willets, Ruddy Turnstones, horrifyingly few Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sands, Semipalmated Plovers, Killdeer, and only one Least Sandpiper. We saw a Clapper Rail walking, proprietarily, across the road at Fowler's Beach. We saw Black Skimmers skimming and Least, Forsters, and Royal Terns. We did get thousands of the eponymous Red Knots and a number of American Oystercatchers. The Yellowlegs had pulled out except for one Greater. Although there was lots of excitement about a Little Egret in breeding plumage, no one in the group was able to locate it despite many attempts. On the last stop at Bombay Hook, the weather became changeable — we had hot weather, then a downpour, then some sprinkles, then another downpour, then it got windy and significantly cooler, and then it heated up again. Our participants dutifully weathered the storms (pardon the pun!). Highlights included Black-necked Stilts on many nests where we could count the eggs. There was also a fecund colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons as well as around 23 Bald Eagles of varying ages.

Tuesday, May 24 2011 - Washington County: Seeking Breeders and Late Migrants, . Leader: Jim Green.

Result: Participants: 7. Species: 90. This day of birding was planned to first look for breeding warblers and thrushes as well as late migrants, then spend the middle of the day looking for grassland species (primarily on Broadfording Rd.) and then finish searching for shorebirds in various places near Hagerstown. Although we did not see or hear any migrant passerines the entire day, it was nevertheless a memorable trip.

We saw good birds at many Washington County sites (see the highlights below), but most exciting of all was close to the end of our day when we stopped at the flooded field at Mt. Aetna/White Hall Rds. I was disappointed because the field was substantially dried up from several weeks ago when Dave Weesner had a Dunlin here and Brad Lanning (both Washington County birders) found two Glossy Ibis. From our cars we quickly saw two Killdeer, but then I saw a shorebird that was facing away from me with its rump in the air and feeding in very shallow water. I said out loud “Yellowlegs” (thinking Lesser) and then realized that the bird had black legs. It then turned sideways, and I yelled “PHALAROPE.” I quickly let the others in the cars behind us know that we had a Wilson’s Phalarope (male).

We spent the next 40 minutes observing and documenting the bird with pictures and video. Then we started making phone calls. When I reached Judy Linga of the Washington Bird Club, she told me the club was meeting that evening nearby, and she would spread the news. Before we left, several members of the club stopped by on their way to the meeting, and they got to see the phalarope as well. Dave Weesner called later to inform us that the club’s impromptu bird trip to see the phalarope was successful. I later talked to several other birders who went out first thing the next morning only to report that the bird had moved on.

Other highlights in Washington County included Blue-winged Warbler (Blairs Valley Lake in Indian Springs WMA); Broad-winged Hawks (Mooresville Rd.); Common Ravens (Mooresville Road and Catholic Church Road); a pair of Bobolinks, an American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbirds, Horned Larks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlarks (Broadfording Road from Clear Spring to Hagerstown) and Semi-palmated Sandpiper at a retention pond off of Poffenberger Road.

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - Rock  Creek Park Tour, Leader: Wallace Kornack

Result: I led three participants on a tour of the main birding sites at the Park. The morning started out looking not too promising following a night of rain.  However, the dark clouds gradually lifted and the tour yielded a good number of warblers and other interesting birds.  Foremost among the 11warblers seen were the Nashville and Canada warblers located on the back side of the Maintenance Yard.  Other warblers included the American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, an uncommonly-seen Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler.  It was noteworthy to see over-flights of Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck and Cedar Waxwings.  Other birds of interest were the Great Crested Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Purple Martin and Indigo Bunting.

Result: Highlights:  Numerous Indigo Buntings perched up and singing, well seen Scarlet Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireo and Field Sparrows.  Best of the disappointingly few warbler species were two singing male Prairie Warblers that gave us great views and which, along with other species that posed for us, were captured digitally by our ace trip photographer, Evelyn Ralston.  Evelyn also was able to get beautiful shots of an adorable, just weeks-old Red Fox cub.  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was quite vocal but we never did spy it. Some visitors from Oregon had several life (Eastern) birds.

Probably the most unexpected bird of the morning was an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, possibly from the Hughes Hollow colony a mile or so away.

Right after the trip ended, many of the participants went directly over to Hughes Hollow.  With help from other birders, we almost immediately were able to see, right in front of us, the rare Purple Gallinule that had been there for several days.  A perfect finish to a fine morning of birding.

MBC thanks Jim Tate and members of the B-CC Chapter for their warm welcome, hospitality and refreshments.  “The Farm” is a great birding location and we hope to visit there again.

Mike Bowen, Montgomery Bird Club
5/10/11

May 6, 2011- Birding by Ear along the C&O Canal

Leaders - Cyndie Loeper and Andy Martin. Participants: 10. Species: 62.

Reults: On this beautiful Friday morning, unfortunately we were without Ann Lucy's ears, but Andy Martin was a terrific co-leader, and we had many good ear birders with us. Walking from Pennyfield Lock upriver, we heard and saw 62 species with nice views of several warblers — Prothonotary, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-throated, Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, Northern Parula, and American Redstart — and we also heard Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Lots of singing Red-eyed Vireos were joined by a Yellow-throated Vireo. Flycatchers were well represented with Acadian, Great Crested, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, and Eastern Kingbird, There were lots of Cedar Waxwings feeding in the sycamore trees. A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird gave us great views as she built her nest on a branch hanging well over the Canal. We had great views of singing Baltimore Orioles and saw Orchard Orioles in both first-year and full adult male plumage. Scarlet Tanagers sang and gave us great views, and Indigo Buntings were holding forth along the entire length of our walk. White-throated Sparrows were still around as well. A Solitary Sandpiper gave brief views in the second impoundment, and we had nice views of a Broad-winged Hawk and a subadult Bald Eagle joining Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks overhead. Northern Rough-winged Swallows joined the Tree Swallows swooping low over the Canal.

May 5 2011 Triadelphia Reservoir--Pigtail Branch

Result: Notes: Montgomery/Howard bird clubs in association with WSSC bird walk at Pigtail.
Number of species: 38

Canada Goose 21
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 1
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
White-eyed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 2
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 1
Northern Parula 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Ovenbird 2
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Eastern Towhee 3
White-throated Sparrow 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Indigo Bunting 2

Monday, May 4, 2011 - Calvert County

Result: Weather: wet wet wet. Participants: 3 plus leader. Species: 67. For the first time in 10 or so years it rained from the get-go. But Calvert County expert Sue Hamilton led us on a driving tour of such choice areas as Solomon’s Island—where we picked up Common Loon and Royal Tern—and back country fields, where we heard Bobolinks. We were able to hear or glimpse many of our target birds, such as Yellow-throated and Hooded Warblers, and the first Blackpoll of the year, as well as Summer Tanager. We ended with 67 species, not bad for such a soggy day.

Sunday, May 3, 2011 - Rock  Creek Park Tour, Leader: Wallace Kornack

Result: I led five participants on a tour of the key birding sites at the Park. We had one of those days when more warblers were heard than were seen. Only the Black-and-white and Yellow-rumped warblers were seen. Heard were Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Ovenbird. Other birds of interest included the Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Great Crested Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Eastern Kingbird.

May 1 (Sunday) Little Bennett Regional Park.

Result: Gemma Radko. Twelve participants, plus leader. The day started out cloudy and cool, and we ended the walk amid a shower, but that didn't stop us from seeing some nice birds! Highlights included a pair of Yellow-throated Vireos, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and 13 species of warbler, including Blackburnian, Prairie, Black-throated Blue, and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Another, unexpected incident was the near-loss of one of our participants in a mud sinkhole - fortunately, we managed to pull her out before she sank out of sight.

April 23 (Saturday) Blue Mash Nature Trail

Result: Leader: Mark England. Participants: 7. Species: 38. Weather was in the high 40s, overcast, with some rain. A cheerful group persevered through some chilly temperatures, gray skies, and very soggy underfooting due to a downpour the previous night. Newly arrived Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers were reluctant to show themselves at first, but we eventually had good looks at both, but there were no other warblers found this morning. There were cormorants in both ponds, and a Green Heron at the small pond was closely observed in the scope. An Eastern Phoebe was seen near its usual culvert nesting spot, and singing Brown Thrashers and Towhees were well seen. We had mostly the park's "usual suspects," but a fence-perched Bank Swallow from about 20 feet allowed exceptional looks and was the highlight of the walk.

APRIL 16 (Saturday) HUGH MAHANES PRESIDENTS' WALK AT HUGHES HOLLOW.

Result: An intrepid and congenial group of 13 birders from the Montgomery Bird Club braved a gray, windy morning with rain fast approaching to do our annual Hugh Mahanes Presidents’ Walk at Hughes Hollow/McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area.  The group included five (past or current) presidents.

Going less than 2 hours before being rained out, we still managed 39 species. Highlights were a very cooperative American Bittern that gave us nice views in flight and standing in its classic neck-straight-up, you-can’t-see-me position, a male Purple Martin that joined the many Tree Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows in flight over the impoundments, and a flock of Rusty Blackbirds giving us very close views.

The complete list from eBird is below.

Location: Hughes Hollow - McKee Beshers WLMA
Observation date: 4/16/11
Notes: Montgomery Bird Club's Hugh Mahanes Presidents' Walk. Gray, windy, and cold
with rain in second hour.
Number of species: 39

Canada Goose 13
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 2
Blue-winged Teal 2
Ring-necked Duck 1
Hooded Merganser 7
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 9
American Bittern 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Buteo sp. 1
American Coot 2
Rock Pigeon 8
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Fish Crow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 12
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 34
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
European Starling 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 5
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 4
sparrow sp. 2
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 15
Rusty Blackbird 12
Common Grackle (Purple) 16
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
blackbird sp. 49

Feb 20, 2011 Oaks Sanitary Landfill (closed), Laytonsville, Md.

Result: Participants: 10 at 6 am., 5 additional at 8 am.
Weather: Mid-20’s early on, but sunny and nice later.
Species: 39

Following up on Linda Friedland’s suggestion, I met some early risers at the landfill gate at 6 am. in order to carpool to the top of the hill before sunrise, in hopes of seeing a Short-eared Owl hunting the fields. Amazingly, about 7 am. we were successful, as David Moulton spotted one against a tree line some distance away, and radioed the sighting to the rest of us. The owl then dropped out of sight, and as the sun was turning the eastern sky a vivid orange, the SEOW came right toward us on deep, floppy wingbeats. We were transfixed as the bird flew by from no more than 20 yards, turned once, then settled into deep grass to roost for the day. Evelyn Ralston was calm enough to get three nice photos of the owl as it flew by.

It was all downhill from there, literally and figuratively, as we descended from the hill and met 8 am. arrivals at the maintenance building, used the restrooms, and then set off with the sun at our back, walking the gravel ring road around much of the landfill. We had fewer good sparrow looks than on a previous October walk, but saw many Song Sparrows, five Savannah Sparrows, and single Field and Swamp Sparrows. In the pond near the Blue Mash Nature Trail, we had good looks at waterfowl including Gadwall, Ring-necked Ducks, two Am. Black Ducks, four Hooded Mergansers, and five flyover Common Mergansers. We found a lone Bufflehead in the leachate pond, and Bob Augustine then spotted two Horned Larks in the gravel road nearby.

As usual, there was no shortage of raptors. In addition to the SEOW, we estimated eight separate Red-tailed Hawks, both adult and immature, a Northern Harrier, two Red-shouldered Hawks, and two Bald Eagles flying over about 11:30 as we returned to the maintenance building. This is the third consecutive landfill walk where the eagles have appeared at about the same time. A few of us who lingered a bit at the end were treated to a handsome male kestrel perched near the entrance road in great light.

JANUARY 14-17 (Friday-Monday) INTRODUCTION TO THE WINTER SHORE: OCEAN CITY TO BROADKILL MARSH.

Trip: Our 2011 “brave winter’s icy blasts” trip offers birders up to three full days on the Eastern Shore. On Fri. we’ll coordinate vehicles from the DC area and stop at birdy locations such as Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center and Bombay Hook NWR en route to the beach. Sat will be spent birding sites in Worcester Co, probably including Assateague Island NS and South Point. Sun we’ll bird Sussex Co, DE, probably including Silver Lake, Cape Henlopen SP, and Prime Hook NWR. Target birds include scoters, eiders, Harlequin Duck, loons, Bonaparte’s Gull, Purple Sandpiper, and any rarities that may have been reported in our path. New members and new birders are particularly encouraged, but all are welcome. Car pooling strongly encouraged.

Result: Species count: 106: Highlights: 26 species of waterfowl, with impressively large flocks of Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, Greater Scaup, and Canvasbacks in a few places along the way. All 3 Scoter species and 20 Common Eiders were seen, and seen well, along with both Loons and Long-tailed Ducks at Ocean City Inlet, which also had a group of 7 Horned Grebes. Later, Indian River Inlet gave us particularly stunning close views of scoters and our only Great Cormorant of the trip. Fresh water ponds, and even some salty creek areas, were mostly or totally frozen so finding dabbling ducks was a challenge, but we were pretty successful and missed only Wood Duck and Harlequin Duck of the regularly occurring winter species. 4 Redheads flew in and landed in the Bayside Development Pond just as we were ready to leave to get lunch, which was a great appetite stimulant.

Happily, we saw 10 species of shorebirds, with the standouts being a Red Knot and 6 American Oystercatchers at Ocean City Inlet, 2 (Western) Willets at Castaways Campground, 22 Greater Yellowlegs at Truitts Landing, and a flock of 80 Dunlin at Fowler Beach in Delaware. As usual, Purple Sandpipers, Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones showed well on the rock jetties. Our 6 gull species included Lesser Black-backed at two different DE locations and the 1st cycle Iceland Gull at the east end of the Bay Bridge in Queen Anne's County, originally found by MBC member Clive Harris. We had nice looks at a continuing American White Pelican at Blackwater NWR, a flying Short-eared Owl at dusk in southern Dorchester County, numerous Northern Harriers, several Kestrels, and a Merlin in both states. Passerines were for the most part lying low, due to the winds, and tough to find. Best of these were a Clay-colored Sparrow near Berlin, MD, and an Orange-crowned Warbler coming to a suet feeder near Lewes, DE. We also had Brown Thrasher at Herring Creek Nature Park in West Ocean City, and both Brown-headed and Red-breasted Nuthatches in several places. A notable if poignant highlight was seeing a group of American Coots on the ice at Kent Narrows, huddled together for warmth in a tight little circle. It's a brutal winter, folks, but nevertheless a good one for us birders who can at least occasionally get in out of the cold.

JANUARY 1 (Saturday) EARLIEST BIRD WALK, GEORGETOWN RESERVOIR AND DC HOTSPOTS.

Trip: Half day. Start the New Year right. Meet at 8 a.m. at Georgetown Reservoir, DC, by the gate leading to the dike between the pools. Reservations required. Limit: 20. LEADER: Mike Bowen, 301-530-5764 or dhmbowen@yahoo.com.

RESULTS: Weather: Much warmer than in recent years, but still with a cold wind off the Potomac; temps. in the 30's. Species count: 38 (a few participants had over 40). Highlights: Georgetown Reservoir was for once quite productive, with Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, and Hooded Merganser in the small amount of open water and a perched Sharp-shinned Hawk at a distance. The pond at Constitution Gardens was mostly frozen but we found a few drake Ring-necked Ducks there in with the scores of Mallards. The Tidal Basin was totally frozen, and we didn't visit the DC War Memorial area this year as it is undergoing "renovation" -- i.e., the removal of many trees. We were happy once again to find Black-crowned Night-herons at their usual roost in the Washington Channel. Bird of the day was a 1st cycle Glaucous Gull, sitting on the ice with other gulls right opposite the entrance to the Hains Point Golf Course, where we stopped for refreshments. Shortly after that we found a perched adult Merlin, several Cooper's Hawks, and a few Lesser Scaup. The LBJ Memorial Grove on the D.C. side of the Boundary Channel by the Pentagon was quieter than usual (for this trip), but a flurry of activity just as we were about to leave gave us Golden-crowned Kinglets at eye level, a Brown Creeper, and best of all a male Pine Warbler. We finished the morning at Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary by National Airport, where we added Pied-Billed Grebe, American Coot, and Red-shouldered Hawk to our day list.