To all, My apologies for the delinquency of this post, but hope this will help those who've been wandering the Susquehanna. The Maryland/Pennsylvania border is about 1100 feet north of the south entrance to the first tunnel (measured from USGS quad - Conowingo Dam). I've never had the guts to wander thru the tunnel. I figure I can see all I need to see from below. Gary A. Griffith (BrdNSum@dpnet.net) Elkton, Maryland ---------- > Joseph Halpin wrote: > > I will be travelling north on I 95 this weekend and was looking at the > > possibility of making a diversion, taking off south of the Conowingo Dam > > to Rt 1 and returning to I 95 on the PA side. Being a novice birder and > > not having a scope, is this a wothwhile diversion with at least a modest > > probability of seeing some of the exceptional birds reported there last > > week? > > Joe and fellow Ospreyans: > > First, a question. Where is the Maryland/Pennsylvania border in relation > to the 2 railroad tunnels on the Cecil County side of the Susquehanna? > > My wife, Jane Kostenko, and I went chasing the Pacific Loon on the > Maryland side of the river yesterday, 11/11. We were joined by Marshall > Iliff and Paul DuMont. All of us walked as far as the north side of the > first tunnel. Though we didn't see the Pacific Loon, we did see about a > dozen Common Loons and several Red-throated Loons. There were also > American Coots, Black Ducks and Buffleheads along the river. Paul had > been there longer and had a long list of stuff which I can't remember > but included Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. The loons were easy to > spy without a scope though we got excellent looks at them with a scope. > I think that a scope is necessary if one is really actively trying to > find the Pacific among the other loons as they tended to be out in the > middle of the channel. > > We parked along Bell Manor Rd and walked north on the tracks about 2 > miles to the first tunnel. When we were almost there, a car pulled into > a gravel parking lot which prompted us to think there must be an easier > way. According to the Maryland Gazateer map, pg. 77, if you continue on > Bell Manor Rd. then left on Pilot Town Rd. there are 2 potential > options. Either continue across Bald Friar Rd. onto a gravel road, which > might end up at the aforementioned parking lot, or turn left onto Bald > Friar Rd. and follow it to the end. Give it a whirl if you want to save > your ankles from the nasty LONG walk along the tracks. > > -- > Good Birding! ...and all this science, > Tyler Bell I don't understand, It's > mailto:bell@say.acnatsci.org just my job five days a week. > California, MD Elton John (Rocket Man) > http://www.acnatsci.org/erd/berc/