Bill,
   We greatly appreciate your posting the impressive list of birds you and Stan found over the weekend.  However, I would like to reiterate a statement by Mark Hoffman for those of us who keep records of bird sightings.  One of the essential pieces of information is the date of the observations.  If you could tell us on which day you visited each site it would be very helpful.
   I don't want to discaourage anyone from reporting their observations.  I read every MDOsprey message for items to add to the database.  Please help us by including the essential info of Who, What, Where, When, and sometimes How Many.
   Thanks to everyone for all your reports.


>
> From: Bill Hubick <>
> Date: 2004/10/25 Mon AM 12:06:18 EDT
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] Eastern Shore highlights; Common Moorhen
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> After this weekend's pelagic trip was cancelled, Stan Arnold and I went on
> a 2-day jaunt around the Eastern Shore. We had 120 species in 6 counties,
> with quite a few nice highlights. You can do a lot in two days with a
> healthy addiction! Our final tally included 19 species of waterfowl, 11
> species of shorebirds, a nice selection of raptors to include all three
> falcons, the three common owls, all three nuthatches, and some pleasant
> surprises. Alas, one of them was not a Lazuli Bunting (wow, congrats!). Our
> best bird was a very cooperative COMMON MOORHEN at the Eagle's Landing golf
> course (Eurasian Wigeon spot). We were able to contrast it with an American
> Coot and a Pied-billed Grebe in the same scope glass, and even got to show
> some curious golfers their life bird for the day.
>
> The water levels are very high in all coastal areas we visited. The water
> was above the rock wall at the Ocean City inlet, and large waves were
> crashing up onto the boardwalk. Skimmer Island was all but under water. On
> Elliott Island Road, large sections of the road were completely flooded,
> and it was obvious we had missed high tide judging by longer stretches of
> wet road. I would not recommend the trip unless your vehicle has a high
> clearance. Also note that the ORV zone is blocked off at about the midway
> point for hunting season.
>
> Here are some highlights. I listed them by species, with extra info if
> interested.


Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD