Re: rare bird at Point Lookout?

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Ernie Willoughby writes:

> Hello, all.  I just received a call from Joe LaMountain in northern
> Virginia.  He says he was watching birds at Point Lookout on Sunday
> (December 28) at 9:00 a.m., and saw on the Bay side of the point
> about 100 meters out from the rip-rap what he took to be a
> THICK-BILLED MURRE.  This seems to be quite improbable to me, but if
> you are down that way, check it out, just in case.  Ernie
> 

This isn't so improbable as you might think, Ernie.  The MD Yellow 
Book notes two records of Thick-billed Murre in November, one in 
January, two in February, and two in March.  Obviously the birds are 
uncommon to rare off Maryland's coast and more than likely unknown in 
the Chesapeake Bay, but the day before this sighting saw a brutal 
storm hitting the coast, lashing Ocean City with winds gusting to 60 
mph, out of the northeast, combined with powerful rainstorms, 
beginning at about 7 am and continuing on through Saturday until 
close to midnight.  Storms like this often kick up rarities in the 
days following the sighting.  If there are any follow-up sightings of 
the bird, be sure to let me know!

Cheers, 
Norm Saunders

=============

Norm Saunders
  Vice-President, MD Ornithological Society
  Editor, The Maryland Yellowthroat
  Listowner, MDOsprey, the Maryland Birding Discussion List
     http://www2.ari.net/osprey/mdosprey/mdosprey.html
  Colesville, MD    osprey@ari.net

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