Re: Roseate Tern at O.C. Inlet 5/7

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Gail,

Thanks for passing on the news about the 3 Roseate Terns feeding at the mouth 
of Ocean City Inlet on Friday.  We ended the Big Day at 200 species, 6 short 
of the two record years.  But this was a short course that began in 
Montgomery and Frederick Cos. and ran to the coast.  The record runs were 
late in the month to take advantage of the breeders in Garrett Co.  So 
yesterday's was a record for the short course.  

We are now faced with the impossible task of convincing the MD/DC records 
Commitee that we actually did hear a Black Rail flying overhead for Frederick 
Co's first record.  We also had King Rail and both Bitterns (3 Least) at the 
same site at @ 1:30 AM.  We had 27 species of warblers for the day.  If only 
we had more time for Montgomery!

BTW the date was chosen to celebrate my 50th anniversary as a birder.  My 
first day in the field was May 7, 1949.  The list of 44 species was enough to 
keep me involved for life.  Happily we ran into a fallout.  What a way to 
start!  Everyone who knows me has heard me recount (yawn) how the 
identification of a Prairie Warbler using the 1947 edition of Peterson 
convinced me that this bird ID challenge could be met.  That moment I was 
hooked.  You should see the gorgeous rendition of a Prairie Warbler that 
Michael painted for me to mark the occasion.  Life is good.

Paul O'Brien

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