Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 00:28:11 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Chris Starling Subject: Cecil County birds Wednesday 2/26 Greetings: This is a little late, but Wednesday after leaving work at 8AM I took some time to drive from Perryville to Port Deposit and then up Principio Road (near Colora), back down Rte 272 and ending up in Elk Neck on McKinney Town and Shady Beach Road before returning home (Hances Point Road) to check my feeders (all Cecil County). I had a few unexpected goodies. Perry point Waterfowl was hard to see due to poor light and ice. But I manage to conjur up 300+ Scaup Species and other usuals plus Bald Eagle. Port Deposit produced Pied-billed Grebe and Gadwall. A farm in Colora held an amazing aray of sparrows including White-Crowned, Field, White-Throated, Song, Savannah, House, and D.E. Junco. Cowbirds were also noted as was a cold- looking racoon. A pair of Kestrels were also seen feasting on a wire. The Elk Neck area produced nice looks at Red-shouldered Hawk, American Tree Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Field Sparrow, and a female Towhee at my feeder. My last vista came from my Father-in-law's dock where I was able to scan the ice-laden North East River. At least 1000 gulls were present as were equal numbers of Common Merganser (mostly male). I was able to pick out a pair of drake Red-breasted Mergansers out there too completing my first "Hat-trick" of mergs for this winter (hoodies were seen at Perry Point). Good Birding, Chris Starling christopher.starling@med.va.gov ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================